Department of Health and Social Care

Pregnancy Tests

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to fund independent scientific research into hormone pregnancy tests.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Commission on Human Medicines Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests was established in 2015 to consider all the available evidence on the possible association between exposure in pregnancy to hormone pregnancy tests and adverse outcomes in pregnancy. The Expert Working Group conducted a comprehensive, scientifically robust and independent review of all available scientific evidence relating to hormone pregnancy tests including the responses to a public call for evidence. In reaching its conclusion that, taking all aspects into consideration, the available evidence did not support a causal association between the use of hormone pregnancy tests during early pregnancy, the Expert Working Group made a number of forward-looking recommendations to further strengthen the scientific evidence which supports safety monitoring of medicines in pregnancy. The current focus of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is on implementing these recommendations.The Government’s priority, as always, is the safety of patients. While there are no plans to fund independent scientific research into hormone pregnancy tests (which have not been available since 1978), should any further evidence emerge of direct relevance to hormone pregnancy tests the MHRA will evaluate this. In addition, certain recommendations of the Expert Working Group’s review are anticipated to encourage relevant research into the safety of medicines in pregnancy.

Surgery: Yorkshire and the Humber

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many operations were cancelled in Yorkshire and the Humber in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available.

Stephen Barclay: This information is not available in the format requested. NHS England publishes quarterly performance data on the number of last minute elective operations cancelled for non-clinical reasons at national, regional and provider levels. This can be accessed via NHS England’s Statistical work areas webpage at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancelled-elective-operations/cancelled-ops-data/

General Practitioners: Yorkshire and the Humber

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of phasing out the minimum income practice guarantee on the financial viability of GP surgeries in Yorkshire and the Humber after 2020.

Steve Brine: When the phasing out of the minimum practice income guarantee was introduced by NHS England, the West Yorkshire Area Team wrote to all practices outlining the financial impact on their Annual Contract Value. Each practice was offered an opportunity to meet with NHS England colleagues, specifically if the practice envisaged financial difficulties. Leeds Clinical Commissioning Groups now have the delegated responsibility for Primary Medical Care Contracts and will have local discussions with regards to resilience. The General Practice Forward View supports resilience through a number of initiatives including, but not limited to, accessing the General Practice Resilience Fund. Further information is available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/workload/resilience/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/workload/resilience/accessing-support/

Mental Health Services: Yorkshire and the Humber

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting lists for mental health therapies in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Government is committed to reducing waiting times for mental health therapies across England.Improving Access to Psychological Therapy waiting time standards continue to improve and we are consistently exceeding the targets. According to data used in the 2016-17 IAPT annual report, 98.2% of those people completing treatment waited less than 18 weeks for their treatment to start in England against a target of 95% and 87.5% of people completing treatment waited less than six weeks against a target of 75%. In 2016-17, 965,379 people entered treatment against a target of 900,000.Updates on clinical commissioning group (CCG) performance against these are published on the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health Dashboard is available at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/mental-health-five-year-forward-view-dashboard/Leeds CCGs have put forward plans to make additional investment in their commissioned talking therapies service, which will help to reduce waiting times further and achieve the national access target of 19% for 2018/19.

Patients: Travel

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 125849, on Patients: Transport, how many people aged 65 and over have claimed reimbursement for their journey on the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme in each year since that scheme began.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 125849, on Patients: Transport, what the cost was to the NHS of the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme in each of the last three years.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the healthcare travel costs scheme is administered by his Department or by individual clinical commissioning groups.

Steve Brine: Information on the number of people aged 65 and over who have claimed reimbursement for their journey on the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme is not held centrally. Information on the costs to the National Health Service of the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme is not held centrally. The Healthcare and Travel Costs Scheme is set out and governed by the provisions of the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003. NHS organisations are responsible for its administration.

Mental Illness: Children

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on under 5-year-olds who cause injury to themselves due to mental ill health.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Self-harm: Children

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of primary school-age children who are self-harming.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Information on the numbers of people who are self-harming is not collected centrally.

Secure Psychiatric Units: Death

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of deaths recorded in secure inpatient mental health units in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The data is not available in the format requested.

Mental Health Services: Staff

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on staffing levels in (a) secure adult inpatient mental health units and (b) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Tier 4 inpatient units for each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Precise information on numbers of staff in secure adult inpatient mental health units and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Tier 4 inpatient units is not collected centrally.However, NHS Improvement updated ‘Safe, sustainable and productive staffing in mental health services’ on 30 January 2018 Guidance to standardise safe, sustainable and productive staffing decisions in mental health services.The guidance outlines that the annual review of safe sustainable staffing references benchmarking data available to the organisation (both internal and external). The guidance can be viewed via the following link:https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/safe-staffing-mental-health-services/

Hospitals: Admissions

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department hold on the number of people over the age of 65 who were re-admitted to hospital within (a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) one month, (d) three months and (e) six months of discharge from hospital to a social care setting in each of the years for which data is available.

Caroline Dinenage: This information is not held centrally.

Tobacco

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to ensure that evidence of the absolute and relative health risks of heat-not-burn tobacco products is independently reviewed.

Steve Brine: The Department commissioned the Committee on Toxicity (CoT) to provide the Department with an independent assessment of the harms produced by heat not burn products. The CoT is a committee of independent experts that provides advice to the Government on matters concerning the toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment. In taking forward this work, the CoT enlisted the expert advice of two other committees, namely the Committee on Mutagenicity and the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. On 12 December 2017, these Committees published their joint statement. The evidence suggests that heat not burn products still pose harm to users, but they are likely to be less harmful than conventional cigarette smoking. Data on impacts to human health is very limited. It is recommended that smokers quit completely rather than move to heat not burn products. Public Health England will continue to monitor the evidence base as it develops.

Primary Care Support England

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS England has spent on NHS staff to (a) support and (b) performance manage Primary Care Support England (PCSE) since the commencement of the PCSE contract to provide services to the NHS.

Steve Brine: NHS England employed a dedicated team to support Primary Care Support England (PCSE) between 1 September 2016 and 31 January 2018. The cost of the staff employed by this team to support PCSE was £1.69 million.NHS England has a dedicated team who oversee the delivery of primary care support services and performance manage PCSE. The cost of the staff employed by this team between 1 September 2015 and 31 January 2018 was £3.42 million. However, set against this, the National Health Service has saved over £30 million a year in administrative costs as a result of the new PCSE contract.

NHS: Finance

Mr Simon Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative estimate he has made of the change in the level of real term funding for the NHS in 2010-11 and 2017-18.

Stephen Barclay: The table below sets out National Health Service funding and real terms increases from 2013-14, when NHS England was established.YearNHS England Mandate (cash) £ billionReal terms increase % (2017-18 prices)2017-18109.92.12016-17106.03.22015-16100.52.62014-1597.31.32013-1494.7 Prior to 2013-14, NHS funding was measured only through the Department’s total departmental expenditure limit (TDEL). The table below sets out TDEL from 2010-11 – 2013-14. YearTDEL (cash) £ billionReal terms increase % (2017-18 prices)2013-14109.82.62012-13105.20.22011-12102.81.02010-11100.40.22 Notes:- Expenditure figures from 2010-11 are on an aligned basis following the Government's Clear Line of Sight programme.- Total expenditure is the sum of revenue + capital expenditure net of non-trust depreciation.

Vaccination: Finance

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding was allocated by his Department to vaccination programmes in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The immunisation programme is demand-led and the Department does not allocate a fixed budget. Public Health England receives funding to support the delivery of routine vaccination programmes in England. As part of the NHS Mandate, NHS England receives funding to commission a range of public health services including routine vaccination programmes. NHS England meets the cost of administering vaccines and also pays a prescribing fee and reimburses the cost of those vaccines that are locally procured by general practitioners and pharmacies.

Vaccination: Finance

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department allocated for vaccination programmes in (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18, (c) 2018-19, (d) 2019-20 and (e) 2020-21 following the 2015 spending review.

Steve Brine: The immunisation programme is demand-led and the Department does not allocate a fixed budget. Funding for vaccination programmes (both the cost of vaccines and administering those vaccines) were estimated up to 2020/21 as part of the Department’s 2015 Spending Review process. These estimates are not confirmed allocations of funds and are updated on an ongoing basis to take account of expert advice as well as factors that affect the overall cost of the programme such as changes in demand, pricing and vaccines offered.

Vaccination: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many local authority areas met the 95 per cent uptake target for childhood immunisation programmes in 2016-17.

Steve Brine: The information requested is in the following table: 95% coverage at 12 months of ageImmunisationDiphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis, Inactivated Polio Vaccine, Hib (DTaP/IPV/Hib)Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV)RotavirusNumber of local authorities*68669 95% coverage at 24 months of ageImmunisationDTaP/IPV/Hib primaryMeasles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) first doseHaemophilus influenzae type b and meningitis C (Hib/MenC) boosterPCV boosterNumber of local authorities*107373334 95% coverage at five years of ageImmunisationDTaP/IPV/Hib primaryDTaP/IPV boosterMMR first doseMMR first and second doseHib/MenC boosterNumber of local authorities*1105101751 Notes:*The data are based on 149 local authorities in England. Rutland is included in Leicestershire, City of London in Hackney and the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall.Reached 95% is defined as ≥95.0% (those achieving 94.9% are not counted).Further information, is available at: Childhood Vaccination Coverage Statistics, England, 2016-17: http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB30085

Dental Services: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many dental practices are involved with the Starting Well programme in each of the 13 high priority areas.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children who have benefited from the Starting Well programme in each of the 13 high priority areas.

Steve Brine: NHS England advises it expects information on the number of dental practices in each of the 13 Starting Well areas that will be involved in the programme to be available later in the spring. The first contracts were signed at the start of this month and therefore no children have yet benefited from the programme. Contracts will continue to be signed over the next few months. Information on the total number of practices involved broken down by each of the 13 areas involved in the programme will be available once contracts are signed.

Doctors: South West

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with representatives of local deaneries to discuss increasing the number of registrar places made available for employment in hospitals in the South West.

Stephen Barclay: Health Education England (HEE) is responsible for planning and commissioning postgraduate medical training in England. This includes working with hospitals and trusts, such as those in the South West, to support the wider workforce, including registrars, to help trusts meet their workforce needs. HEE plans to review the geographical distribution of training programmes this year to address the role trainees play in service delivery across small or medium-sized hospitals.

Doctors: Training

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase the numbers of doctors in training.

Stephen Barclay: The Government has announced a historic 25% increase in the number of medical school training places with an additional 1,500 medical school places to be made available for domestic students at English universities. The first 500 places have been allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to existing medical schools and places will be available from September 2018. The remaining 1,000 places will be allocated through a competitive bidding process currently being undertaken by HEFCE and Health Education England and places will be available to students from September 2019. This expansion will allow more domestic students to train as doctors and will increase our supply of home grown doctors.

Fentanyl

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what strategy the Government has put in place to (a) support people affected by Fentanyl and (b) reduce the harm associated with that drug.

Steve Brine: Public Health England supports local areas in responding to the threat from fentanyl, and other drugs. This includes ensuring wider availability of the opioid-overdose antidote naloxone, providing messages to use with people at risk, and issuing public health alerts when there is sufficient evidence of harm from particular drugs like fentanyl.Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug treatment services and interventions to reduce drug-related harm, based on local need.My Rt. hon. Friend the Home Secretary has also asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to investigate the risks around fentanyl analogues, so we can maximise the effectiveness of our response.

NHS Trusts: Non-domestic Rates

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing NHS Trusts with additional funding to offset business rates costs.

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing NHS Trusts to claim relief on business rates.

Stephen Barclay: National Health Service properties, like almost all other buildings occupied by public bodies, have been subject to non-domestic rates since they were introduced. Operational costs related to property, which include business rates, are taken into account at spending reviews in determining the overall level of funding for the NHS. The Government committed to backing the NHS’s Five Year Forward View plan with a £10 billion a year real terms increase in funding by 2020/21. There has been no such assessment.

NHS Property and Estates Review

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the procurement process which removes responsibility for facilities management services from NHS Property Services Ltd will be in line with the proposals set out in the Government's response to the Naylor Review, published on 30 January 2018.

Stephen Barclay: The Government’s response to the Naylor Review confirmed that it has chosen not to merge the existing National Health Service property companies at the current time. NHS Property Services Ltd and Community Health Partnerships Ltd (CHP) will continue to provide the asset ownership and management, facilities management (FM) and financing functions that they offer currently. In running a procurement now for ‘soft’ FM services (cleaning, catering, laundry etc), CHP is seeking to improve and better coordinate soft FM activities across its sites and better serve its customers requirements. The initiative will enable CHP to deliver more active management of its buildings for the benefit of its customers, their staff and patients.

NHS Property and Estates Review

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will pause any further attempts by NHS Foundation Trusts to form wholly owned companies to deliver facilities and estates management services to avoid further fragmentation of the service and help enable a consistent approach to the NHS Estates Strategy as set out in the Naylor Review and accepted in the Government’s response to that review.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the establishment of wholly-owned companies to manage NHS properties on behalf of NHS Foundation Trusts with proposals set out in the Government response to the Naylor Review, published on 30 January 2018.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to prevent the establishment of wholly owned companies to manage estates and property management which have been progressed but whose business case does not meet the standards of the published checklist.

Stephen Barclay: National Health Service organisations are responsible for deciding locally the most appropriate structures they need to deliver services to their patients within available resources and they must do so in line with the appropriate guidance. Commissioners and regulators are responsible for ensuring that NHS providers act in the best interests of patients and taxpayers, and this includes working with them to ensure that the Government’s response to the Naylor Review is implemented.

NHS Property Board

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms of reference for the establishment of the NHS Property Board.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NHS Property Board will hold its meetings in public and publish its agenda, minutes and other key documents.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 4.4 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, published in January 2018, how the NHS Property Board plans to ensure that the NHS estate is used in a way that supports the delivery of clinical strategies.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 4.4 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, published in January 2018, how the NHS Property Board plans to ensure that the NHS estate is used in a way that is adaptable to locally changing demand.

Stephen Barclay: The NHS Property Board has been established to provide leadership and strategic direction to the National Health Service on estates matters. The attached document sets out its agreed terms of reference. The NHS Property Board and its constituent members will ensure that local estates plans, supported by the strategic estates planning team, are grounded in local clinical strategies and adaptable to changes in demand. Meetings of the NHS Property Board are held in closed session due to the confidential nature of items discussed.



PQ127452 attached document
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NHS Property and Estates Review

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place in the Library the evidence to support the assertion in 4.3 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, published in January 2018 that the current estates’ responsibilities have been effective in addressing operational matters.

Stephen Barclay: Paragraph 4.3 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review reflects the Department’s view that the various organisations responsible for estates matters have fulfilled the expectations that we have placed upon them, whether through formal mandate or other delegations of responsibility. This has ensured that the healthcare estate supports clinical service models effectively, and patient services operate without interruption. The Department’s mandate to NHS England and its letter to NHS Improvement setting its remit are available on the following web links together with the minutes of accountability meetings between the Department and these organisations. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-mandate-2017-to-2018 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-improvements-remit-for-2017-to-2018 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-improvement-accountability-meeting-minutes https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-commissioning-board-accountability-meeting-minutes

Obesity: Children

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on the national institute for obesity research policy unit's research into the causes of childhood obesity; and what the timetable is for that unit's findings to be provided to his Department.

Steve Brine: The Department, through the National Institute for Health Research, is providing £5 million funding over five years for a Policy Research Unit on Obesity (OPRU). The OPRU commenced in September 2017 and the initial programme of research has been agreed and work has begun on the first set of projects, with clear timeframes for reporting to the Department. The first two to three years of planned work will concentrate on: marketing to children, tackling inequalities in childhood obesity, prevention of obesity in the early years, and supporting the evaluation of the Childhood Obesity Plan.

NHS Property and Estates Review

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 9 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, published in January 2018, what funding will be made available for the training and development of the estates and facilities workforce; and whether that funding will come from existing budgets.

Stephen Barclay: As part of its ongoing work, the NHS Estates and Facilities division of NHS Improvement leads on the training and development of the estates and facilities workforce, and will continue to do so. As part of the implementation of the workforce related elements of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, funding will be identified as required. National Health Service organisations remain responsible for the training and development of their own estates and facilities staff.

NHS: Non-domestic Rates

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government on relieving financial pressures on the NHS as a result of business rates.

Stephen Barclay: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regularly meets with colleagues across Government to discuss a range of subjects.

Coca Cola and Mars UK

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2018 to Question 126148, on Coca Cola and Mars UK, on what dates those meetings took place.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2018 to Question 126164, on British Soft Drinks Association, on what dates each of those meetings took place.

Steve Brine: Dates of meetings are provided in the table below.OrganisationDateCoca Cola17 July 20179 January 2018  Mars12 January 201720 January 201717 June 201722 September 20171 November 201720 December 2017  British Soft Drinks Association22 March 201717 July 201727 July 20177 September 20171 November 201718 January 2018

Department of Health and Social Care: Vending Machines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to increase the availability of food that is low in sugar content in vending machines on his Departmental estate.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department has one food and one drink vending machine on its estate. The Department is keen to ensure that low sugar options are available to staff and works closely with its catering supplier on an ongoing basis to provide a healthy offering. The focus has been on ensuring that low or no sugar drinks are readily available to staff.

Sugar

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with retailers to limit the promotion of high sugar food and drink products.

Steve Brine: My Rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not had any recent discussions with representatives from the retail industry to limit the promotion of high sugar food and drink products.

Cycling

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential benefits of cycling for public health.

Steve Brine: Cycling is one of the key physical activity examples promoted across the Chief Medical Officer guidelines for healthcare professionals to help them explain to patients the guidelines and how to implement them, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-physical-activity-guidelines.Public Health England (PHE) promotes cycling as an accessible form of physical activity and its health benefits across its work on physical activity, health improvement and healthy environments. Guidance on the benefits of and practical approaches to creating environments that encourage cycling in publications such as PHE’s active travel briefing for local authorities available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523460/Working_Together_to_Promote_Active_Travel_A_briefing_for_local_authorities.pdfThe healthy weight and active design publications PHE has produced with the Town and Country Planning Association and Sport England respectively, available at:https://www.sportengland.org/media/3426/spe003-active-design-published-october-2015-email-2.pdfCycling is prominent in social marketing campaigns that support people to get more physically active, such as One You for adults and Change4Life for children and families.

NHS Property and Estates Review

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 4.7 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, published in January 2018, how guidance issued by NHS Improvement can be applied to the primary care estate.

Stephen Barclay: The NHS Estates and Facilities division of NHS Improvement leads on the development of guidance for NHS Estates and Facilities. They have published guidance relevant to primary care previously, e.g. Facilities for primary and community care services (HBN 11-01), and will continue to do so in future, working closely with the primary care division in NHS England. Following publication of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, NHS Improvement will support implementation of the Response through their Guidance.

NHS Property and Estates Review

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 4.10 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review published in January 2018, how estates expertise will be enabled at the local level.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 4.11 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, published in January 2018, how the development of (a) local capacity and (b) local support has been delivered.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 4.14 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, published in January 2018, what arrangements his Department has put in place for the (a) governance and (b) accountability for the Strategic Estates Planning service.

Stephen Barclay: To enhance local capability and expertise, strategic estates advisers from NHS Property Services and Community Health Partnerships have been operating as a single team since November 2016 to support the development of local estates strategies. The team’s role will now evolve to provide a full national strategic estates planning service to support sustainability and transformation partnerships to make further progress. The role of this team is set out in paragraphs 4.14 to 4.18 of the Government’s response to the Naylor Review. We will recruit a new Director to lead the team. The Director will be a member of the NHS Property Board.

NHS Property Board

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding he has allocated to the (a) establishment and (b) operation of the NHS Property Board.

Stephen Barclay: The NHS Property Board brings together senior representatives from the Department, NHS England, NHS Improvement, wider Government, Community Health Partnerships and NHS Property Services to provide a single leadership focus for the system on estates matters. The NHS Property Board has been established and will operate using existing resources; no additional funding has been allocated.

NHS Property and Estates Review

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 6.28 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review, published in January 2018, how much of the £8 billiion of operating costs is directly linked to (a) PFI and (b) other external contracts.

Stephen Barclay: Data is collected from the National Health Service on the costs of their Estates and Facilities services, through the Estates Return Information Collection. This includes Private Finance Initiative (PFI) costs identified separately, but not the costs of external contracts generally. Data for the latest available year shows that PFI costs reported by the NHS were £1.6 billion.

Community Health Partnerships

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to direct Community Health Partnerships to return the dividend paid from Local Improvement Finance Trust contracts to local health economies.

Stephen Barclay: Community Health Partnerships Ltd (CHP) invests equity and subordinated debt into National Health Service Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) companies, and the projects that they deliver, as envisaged in and required by the NHS LIFT contracts. When CHP invests in these NHS LIFT companies and projects, it receives a return on its investment via loan interest and dividends. The dividends have been used by the companies to support a range of initiatives to improve local services, for example, funding strategic estate advisors to support the development of local estate strategies that are required as part of the Sustainability and Transformation Plans. All dividends received by CHP are re-invested exclusively into the NHS.

Dental Services: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to made an assessment of the effectiveness of  the Starting Well, oral health preventative programme.

Steve Brine: Local Starting Well schemes will have their effectiveness measured by Local NHS England Regional Offices against a set of performance and outcomes indicators. The indicators will mirror the aims and objectives of the programme. NHS England advises that an independent evaluation, led by the University of Birmingham, will evaluate if the aims and objectives of the programme were met and inform the development of guidance to future commissioners of such programmes.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dental Services

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of children who have been admitted to A&E due to dental problems.

Steve Brine: Information is collected by NHS Digital on the number of accident and emergency (A&E) admissions in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.This shows that for 2016/17 3,489 children aged 17 and under were admitted to A&E for dental related investigations. This is the latest data available.

Sepsis

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of sepsis there were in each region of England in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: Data are not collected in the format requested. Cases of sepsis can only be identified where a hospital admission occurred; therefore collected figures exclude cases treated without the patient being admitted to hospital. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. Data on finished admission episodes with a primary or secondary diagnosis of sepsis by government office region of residence years 2012-13 to 2016-17 is shown in the table below. Sepsis is a devastating condition that we need to get better at spotting across the National Health Service. By raising awareness and improving clinical practice we will save lives in the fight against this horrible illness. Better awareness has led to more cases of sepsis being detected across all age groups. We estimate that our cross system efforts since 2015 have saved over 1,000 lives but we know there is more to do and this is why a new action plan was launched in September 2017 to ensure the NHS is on the highest possible alert to tackle this silent killer. Government office region2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17North East4,7435,2596,3248,63011,588North West11,87814,65818,04023,66826,749Yorkshire and Humber8,2999,74910,97213,38015,188East Midlands8,0869,20311,26112,62514,181West Midlands8,63610,28112,05213,99615,761East of England9,59811,15413,90817,21420,208London12,38215,11016,68219,05322,052South East13,96416,71618,83823,18127,666South West8,5479,87011,75412,99515,016Unknown/Outside of England10,9493,6423,8964,7857,056Total97,082105,642123,727149,527175,465Notes:Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital. Refer to the footnotes when interpreting the data.FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes.The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (from 2007-08) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 19 (from 2007-08) secondary diagnosis fields in HES that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care.The following ICD-10 coding has been used to define sepsis:A02.1 Salmonella sepsisA20.7 Septicaemic plagueA21.7 Generalized tularaemiaA22.7 Anthrax sepsisA26.7 Erysipelothrix sepsisA28.0 PasteurellosisA28.2 Extraintestinal yersiniosisA32.7 Listerial sepsisA39.2 Acute meningococcaemiaA39.3 Chronic meningococcaemiaA39.4 Meningococcaemia, unspecifiedA40.- Streptococcal sepsisA41.- Other sepsisA42.7 Actinomycotic sepsisB37.7 Candidal sepsisO85.X Puerperal sepsisP36.- Bacterial sepsis of newbornThe following pair of codes is a dagger/asterisk code pair (D and A) which must be present together:A39.1 Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndromeE35.1 Disorders of adrenal glands in diseases classified elsewhereThe Government Office Region of residence contains a code that defines the Government Office Region of residence of the patient. It is derived from the patient's postcode.HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information. It should be noted that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity ending between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.

Lung Diseases

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed with lung disease in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The information requested is not centrally held.

Hospitals: Parking

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much each NHS Trust in the North-West accrued from parking charges in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what proportion of each NHS Trust's income that figure represents.

Stephen Barclay: The information requested is not collected centrally. National Health Service trusts make decisions locally about the provision of car parking to patients, visitors and staff. The Department published clear guidelines (car parking principles) for NHS organisations that they are expected to follow. Hospitals should put concessions in place for those who most need help including disabled people, carers and staff who work shifts. The NHS itself is responsible for ensuring that charges are fairly applied.

Nurses: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many nursing posts are currently vacant in (a) Warrington and (b) the North-West.

Stephen Barclay: The information is not available in the format requested.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Self-harm

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many attendances at emergency departments for self-harm per 100,000 people there were in 2016-17; and how many of those attendancies received a psychological assessment.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The table below shows the number of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances in 2016-17 where patients presented after deliberate self-harm for all diagnoses and the attendance rate per 100,000 population.Activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. A&E AttendancesRate per 100,000 populationSelf-harm (all diagnoses)111,406201.6Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital http://content.digital.nhs.uk/hesData regarding the number of A&E patients that undergo a psychological assessment is not collected centrally.

Eating Disorders

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many in-patient eating disorder beds there have been for (a) adults and (b) children in each year since 2010 in England.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Data regarding the number of in-patient eating disorder beds is not available for each year since 2010. The latest management data available shows that the number of specialist eating disorder beds for adults is 415 (as at January 2017) and the number for children and young people is 220 (as at April 2017). Children and young people with eating disorders are routinely and appropriately admitted to other types of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in-patient services. NHS England is currently undertaking a programme of work to redistribute CAMHS beds across the country to open beds in underserved areas of the country and strengthen integration with local pathways.

Health Services: Complaints

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many formal complaints (a) mental health services and (b) the NHS received in each region in each month of each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS Digital is the organisation responsible for collecting and publishing National Health Service complaints data. These data were collected annually until 1 April 2015. NHS Digital now collects these data quarterly and monthly data are not available. The attached tables show quarterly data received in respect of NHS mental health services for the periods requested. Because of changes to the method and frequency of the data collection NHS Digital currently classify data from April 2015 as ‘experimental’ so they cannot be compared with previous years.

Skin Cancer: Screening

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of services to check people for skin cancer.

Steve Brine: The Be Clear on Cancer campaigns are designed to raise the public’s awareness of specific cancer symptoms, encourage people with those symptoms to go to the doctor and diagnose cancer at an earlier stage. Public Health England ran a Be Clear on Cancer Skin Cancer campaign in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset in 2014. The Be Clear on Cancer Skin Cancer materials are freely available online via the Campaign Resource Centre at:https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resourcesThe decision on which cancers should be the focus of Be Clear on Cancer campaigns is informed by a steering group, whose members include primary and secondary care clinicians, and key voluntary sector organisations. This is under constant review, informed by the available data and medical information resources.

Fentanyl: Misuse

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle the misuse of Fentanyl.

Steve Brine: Public Health England supports local areas in responding to the threat from fentanyl, and other drugs. This includes ensuring wider availability of the opioid-overdose antidote naloxone, providing messages to use with people at risk, and issuing public health alerts when there is sufficient evidence of harm from particular drugs like fentanyl.Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug treatment services and interventions to reduce drug-related harm, based on local need.My Rt. hon. Friend the Home Secretary has also asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to investigate the risks around fentanyl analogues, so we can maximise the effectiveness of our response.

NHS: Drugs

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the top ten drugs bought by the NHS from EU countries were by (a) volume and (b) price.

Steve Brine: The Department does not hold this information.

Molybdenum

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of current suppliers of molybdenum-99 located in countries that are not members of Euratom.

Steve Brine: Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is currently made in nuclear research reactors. There are currently six active reactors in the world that produce more than 90% of the world’s Mo-99 supply, the following table lists these reactors and their location. Australia and South Africa are not members of Euratom. ReactorLocationHFRNetherlandsBR-2BelgiumSafari-1South AfricaMARIAPolandOPALAustraliaLVR-15Czech Republic

Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on the review of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department keeps the legislation relating to the Care Quality Commission under ongoing review. In particular, this led to comprehensive changes to the regulations relating to the Care Quality Commission, which came into force in 2014 and 2015. These included introduction of fundamental standards below which care should not fall, public ratings of provider performance, and a duty of candour for providers. A specific post implementation review of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 as stipulated in part 7 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) and (Additional Functions) and Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 has not yet been completed but will be published in due course. This is part of a wider exercise within government to test the impact of legislation five years after implementation.

HM Treasury

Fracking

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the potential future value of shale gas reserves to the public purse; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Jenrick: The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) produces forecasts for UK oil & gas tax receipts. Its latest Economic and Fiscal Outlook was published on 22 November 2017: http://obr.uk/efo/economic-fiscal-outlook-november-2017/ The OBR also produces regular reports on wider trends in the economy that may affect tax revenues in the longer term.

Insurance: Misrepresentation

Chris Ruane: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people  mis-sold payment protection insurance in each region of the UK since 1990.

Mel Stride: The government has been consistently clear that the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI) was wrong and that consumers must receive redress where it is due. Since January 2011, firms have handled over 20.8 million PPI complaints and paid out £29.2 billion in redress to over 12 million people. The PPI market was large, long-established and diverse in its products and their benefits and limitations, costs and value for money, and in the channels and ways in which it was sold. The Financial Conduct Authority estimates that up to 64 million PPI policies were sold; however not all PPI was mis-sold and, properly sold, PPI could meet some consumers’ genuine credit protection needs. For these reasons, mis-sales of PPI are identified by firms and the Financial Ombudsman Service following assessment of the circumstances of individual cases.

Financial Services: Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individuals employed in senior roles in the financial and banking industry have been convicted for fraud offences in each of the last 10 years; and how many such convictions resulted in a custodial sentence.

John Glen: The information requested is not held by the Treasury.

Tax Evasion: Prosecutions

Anneliese Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many prosecutions have been (a) brought to court and (b) completed for offences under the failure to prevent the facilitation of UK and foreign tax evasion clause of the Criminal Finances Act 2017; and how much has been collected in fines from those convicted of such offences to date.

Mel Stride: To date no prosecutions have been either brought to court or completed under the ‘failure to prevent the facilitation of UK and foreign tax evasion’ clause of the Criminal Finances Act 2017. The new offences will be committed where a relevant body fails to prevent an associated person criminally facilitating the evasion of a tax, and this will be the case whether the tax evaded is owed in the UK or in a foreign country. The failure to prevent the facilitation of a UK tax offence by a corporate body or partnership will be investigated by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The failure to prevent the facilitation of a foreign tax offence by a corporate body or partnership will be investigated by the Serious Fraud Office or the National Crime Agency (NCA). Neither HMRC nor the NCA are prosecuting authorities. All prosecutions leading from their investigations have to be authorised by the relevant independent prosecuting authority, which for England and Wales would be the Crown Prosecution Service; for Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service; and for Northern Ireland, the Public Prosecution Service for NI. The offences are not retrospective and therefore only apply to acts of criminal facilitation undertaken from 30 September 2017.

Research: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many entities received relief from corporation tax on research and development credits in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: HMRC publishes reports on the number of companies claiming Corporation Tax relief on Research and Development. Information for the period 2015-16 can be found in Table RD1 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/corporate-tax-research-and-development-tax-credit Information for the period 2016-17 will be published in Autumn 2018 whilst information for 2017-18 will not be available until 2019.

Patents: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from patent box corporation tax in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: The latest National Statistics on usage of the Patent Box were published on 14 September 2017 and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/657848/Patent_Box_Statistics_2014-15.pdf

Food: VAT Exemptions

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from VAT on food in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received VAT relief for construction of new dwellings, including refunds to self-builders, in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from VAT on domestic passenger transport in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes figures for the estimated costs of these reliefs based on expenditure data, usually from external sources such as the Office for National Statistics. (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics) However, HMRC is unable to determine how many taxpayers have claimed a VAT relief. This is because the details that HMRC collects from the taxpayer on their VAT return are not specific enough to provide the data required. We also publish figures on the number of claims for VAT refunds (but not ‘people’) in respect of self-builders in the annual VAT factsheet here (Table 1.5) https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Statistical Factsheets/VAT_Factsheet_17.xls. This shows there were over 6,500 claims in 2016-17 with total refunds of £77m.

Court Orders: Electronic Government

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has issued guidelines to all HMRC employees regarding the acceptance as case evidence of electronic court orders issued by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in the event that a paper version is not issued.

Mel Stride: HMRC complies with all court orders, whether issued electronically or in paper format. HMRC does not treat court orders differently depending on the format in which they are received, and therefore does not issue guidance addressing this particular point.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2018 to Question 126082 on Children: Day Care, whether his Department has requested technical improvements to the Childcare Choices website capability since 1 January 2017.

Elizabeth Truss: The Childcare Choices website (found at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk) provides information for parents on all government schemes which offer support towards childcare costs. The website helps parents to choose which form of government childcare support works best for them. The content of the website is regularly updated, and there have been no significant technical issues with the site since it was launched.

Insurance: Terrorism

Neil Coyle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to update the Reinsurance (Acts of Terrorism) Act 1993 to enable insurance companies to pay compensation to businesses after terrorism attacks when there is no damage to property.

Neil Coyle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of terrorism insurance in compensating businesses after an act of terror.

Neil Coyle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation to update the Reinsurance (Acts of Terrorism) Act 1993 to enable insurance companies to pay compensation to businesses after terrorism attacks when there is no damage to property.

John Glen: There is nothing in current legislation in the Reinsurance (Acts of Terrorism) Act 1993 that prevents insurers from offering terrorism insurance beyond property damage to businesses, and indeed such products exist on the market. That said, I understand the concerns that businesses have raised about terrorism insurance cover for business interruption losses that are not linked to damage to commercial property and want to do everything we can to help. The Treasury remains in discussions with the insurance industry, Pool Re and other interested parties to ensure that the Act continues to enable appropriate terrorism cover to be available for all businesses in the UK. We are actively exploring options, including legislation, to address this and will confirm our next steps in due course.

Mortgages: Interest Rates

Matt Western: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the reasonableness of the levels of interest which banks apply to homeowner loans; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: Action taken by this Government in the years following the financial crisis has supported low and stable interest rates, so that mortgage borrowers have been able to benefit from historically low mortgage rates. For example, an average 2-year fixed rate mortgage has fallen consistently over the last 8 years, from 6.64% in December 2009 to 2.21% in December 2017.[1] [1] Bank of England, G1.3 - Average quoted household interest rates, 2 year 90% LTV fixed-rate owner occupied Secured Lending Rates

Travel: VAT Exemptions

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who received relief from VAT on international passenger transport in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who received relief from VAT on books, newspapers and magazines in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who received relief from VAT on water and sewerage services in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from VAT on (a) drugs and (b) supplies on prescription in (i) 2015-16, (ii) 2016-17 and (iii) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from VAT on vehicles and other supplies to disabled people in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from VAT on residential conversions and renovations in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received the reduced rate for domestic fuel and power in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received the reduced rate of VAT on energy saving materials in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: The details that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collects from taxpayers on their VAT returns are not specific enough to provide the number of people benefiting from this relief. HMRC does not require this level of detail because it would place a considerable administrative burden on businesses.

Plastics: Waste

Kerry McCarthy: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the timetable is for starting his Department's call for evidence on tax changes and single-use plastic waste.

Robert Jenrick: At Autumn Budget, the government announced a call for evidence on how changes to the tax system or charges could cut down on the use of single-use plastics.The call for evidence will be launched shortly. The government will outline how it plans to proceed once we have analysed the responses to this call for evidence.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Real Time Information hashes have been sent by the BACS payment scheme to HMRC in each year since 2012.

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to encourage employers to adopt hash validation in their PAYE Real Time Information returns.

Mel Stride: This information is not available centrally, and could be researched only at disproportionate cost. HMRC has published guidance to help and support employers with the hash validation process. HMRC continue to work with customers to help and support employer education to improve the accuracy and timeliness of RTI data.

Personal Savings

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to simplify share plans and reduce disincentives to save for people aged 18-30.

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what barriers his Department has identified to lower earners’ participation in tax-advantaged share schemes.

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to simplify save as you earn schemes and share incentive plans to encourage more people to save.

John Glen: The government offers four tax advantaged share schemes, Company Share Option Plan, Share Incentive Plan, Enterprise Management Incentives and Save As You Earn. These enable employers and their employees to mutually benefit from generous Income Tax, National Insurance, and Capital Gains Tax reliefs when they participate. At Autumn Budget 2017 the government announced that employees on the Save As You Earn scheme who take maternity or parental leave will be able to pause their contributions for up to 12 months, extended from the previous limit of 6 months. There are currently no other plans to make changes to the schemes. The government keeps all areas of the tax system under review. The government is also committed to supporting savers of all incomes and at all stages of life. We have introduced a range of measures, including the Personal Savings Allowance, which mean that over 95% of people pay no tax on their savings income. We have also introduced the Lifetime ISA, which supports younger people to save for the long term by offering them a 25% bonus from the government on savings of up to £4,000 annually.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many parents have stopped using childcare vouchers in order to use tax-free childcare.

Tracy Brabin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish all recent correspondence between his Department and the companies contracted to deliver the website services responsible for the generation of eligibility codes for childcare policies, tax-free childcare and 30 hours of funded childcare on improvements requested to that website.

Tracy Brabin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which companies are contracted to provide the website services which generate eligibility codes for (a) tax-free childcare and (b) 30 hours of funded childcare; and whether those companies have been sanctioned for website faults.

Elizabeth Truss: HMRC are delivering the childcare service in partnership with National Savings & Investments (NS&I). Atos are a contractor to NS&I. It is not the Government’s usual practice to comment on financial arrangements, or release correspondence, between departments and their contactors since they may be commercially sensitive. Data on how many parents have stopped using childcare vouchers in order to use Tax-Free childcare is not available.

Employment: Mothers

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the statement of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the Treasury Committee of 31 January 2018, what her evidential basis is for there having been an increase in maternal employment of 6 per cent.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the statement of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the Treasury Committee of 31 January 2018, what (a) amount and (b) proportion of the 6 per cent increase in maternal employment she cited is paid at the National Living Wage.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the effect of childcare costs on female participation in the labour market.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the economic cost of parents unable to enter the labour market because of childcare costs, in each year since 2013.

Elizabeth Truss: The Office for National Statistics has published statistics that show the employment rate of women with dependent children in England increased by 6.3 percentage points from 67.4 per cent in April-June 2010 to 73.7 per cent in April-June 2017, with 64 per cent of the increase amongst women working full time. We do not have an estimate of the hourly earnings of those women. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/familiesandthelabourmarketengland/2017 Economic evidence from both the UK and internationally shows a positive effect of reduced childcare costs on female labour market participation. In the UK, the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that the fraction of mothers working or looking for work increases by 5.7 percentage points when their youngest child becomes eligible for free full-time care at school. The overall economic costs and benefit of parents moving into work will depend on a wide range of factors in both the short and long-term, and will vary significantly depending on the situation and characteristics of the family.

Midas Financial Solutions (Scotland)

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the findings of the Financial Services Authority's investigation into Midas Financial Solutions (Scotland) Limited in October 2012.

John Glen: The publication of findings following an investigation by the Financial Services Authority is a matter for their successor, the Financial Conduct Authority. The FCA is an independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. Given the FCA’s independence, it would not be appropriate for the government to comment further on this case.

Revenue and Customs: Tobacco

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the transparency document entitled HMRC policy meetings with tobacco stakeholders: October to December 2017, if he will publish the minutes of the meetings between HMRC officials and such stakeholders which took place on 16 October, 17 October, 3 November and 8 December 2017.

Robert Jenrick: HM Revenue and Customs has no plans to publish the minutes of these meetings.

Soft Drinks: Taxation

Nick Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the sum accrued to the public purse from tax on the sale of energy drinks in each of the last five years.

Robert Jenrick: Energy drinks, that is drinks that are high in caffeine and/or other stimulants, will typically be standard rated for VAT. However, no data is available on how much VAT is raised on their sale as this level of detail is not requested on VAT returns.Energy drinks are often also high in sugar. From April this year, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will take effect, which is forecast to raise nearly £1.5billion over the next five years. This levy directly targets the producers and importers of sugary soft drinks to encourage them to remove added sugar, promote diet drinks, and reduce portion sizes for high sugar drinks.

Housing: Capital Gains Tax

Neil O'Brien: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money was accrued to the public purse from Capital Gains Tax paid on residential property in each year since 2000.

Mel Stride: The amount of money accrued to the public purse from Capital Gains Tax paid on residential property in each year since 2000 is not readily available. Tax data from residential property gains is not readily available because, historically, it has not been collected separately as part of Self Assessment returns. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost using significant analytical resource to compute estimates. However, from 2016/17 the Capital Gains Tax Self Assessment return includes a separate section that will collect information on tax payable on residential property gains.

Beer: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Smaller Brewers received relief from excise taxes in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs is unable to provide details of the number of UK brewers who have received Small Breweries Relief without undertaking a detailed examination of available records.

Credit Unions

Chris Elmore: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support he offers to Credit Unions; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage their use.

John Glen: The government is committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially underserved communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK’s financial services sector. The government has done this by: Announcing at Autumn Budget 2017, that where a credit union’s membership conditions are based on locality, a credit union will be able to increase the number of potential members it can have from 2 to 3 million. Announcing at Autumn Statement 2016 that, from 2018, a scheme which incentivises credit union membership in communities at risk of being targeted by loan sharks, will be expanded. This uses funds recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act from convicted loan sharks. Contributing £600,000 to an initiative developed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Young Enterprise, to start savings clubs in primary schools and educate young children in the benefits of saving. Lifesavers works with local credit unions to help run savings clubs in schools.

Domestic Violence

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether all banks and financial service firms are required to have a written policy on domestic abuse.

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issued to (a) banks and (b) the financial service sector on responding to cases has of domestic abuse in which the perpetrator and victim have a joint bank accounts.

John Glen: The Treasury has not issued guidance. The independent financial services regulator - the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - requires firms to treat their customers fairly and has broad and robust powers to enforce breaches of its rules. Confirmed Industry Guidance for the FCA’s Banking Conduct of Business Sourcebook sets out what information firms must provide to customers when they open a joint account, including an explanation of a customer’s rights and duties and the concept of joint and several liability. UK Finance and the Building Societies Association also publish an information leaflet for those considering opening a joint account. The Government wants to ensure that all victims of domestic abuse are provided with the support they need. The Government will shortly be launching a consultation into tackling domestic abuse, in advance of bringing forward legislation, and I encourage the hon. Member to engage with the consultation when it is published.

Children: Day Care

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2018 to Question 124116 on Children: Daycare, how many of the callers to the childcare service helpline successfully completed their application for Tax-Free Childcare.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department has issued on  30 hours free childcare provision to parents whose job circumstances change in the rolling three-month period.

Elizabeth Truss: Parents call the childcare service helpline for a variety of reasons relating to the Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours free childcare schemes. HMRC does not hold data about the number of parents who call before or while making an application for Tax-Free Childcare subsequently submit an application. The Department for Education is responsible for 30 hours free childcare guidance. The childcare service helpline provides advice to parents who have a change in circumstances.

Money Laundering

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have been (a) convicted and (b) fined under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 by offence since 2010.

John Glen: Since 2010, over 9700 people in England and Wales have been successfully convicted for money laundering offences – most of these are under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) which provides for various money laundering offences, including where an individual knows or suspects they may be facilitating money laundering or seeks to conceal criminal property. The Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and the subsequent update, the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs) focus on ensuring regulated businesses put in place controls to guard against money laundering or terrorist finance. Supervisors are appointed by the Treasury to monitor compliance with these regulations and primarily use a range of supervisory tools to promote compliance, including warning notices, action plans, financial penalties or withdrawal of the right to practice. The vast majority of breaches of the MLRs are remedied or penalised using these supervisory tools. Since 2010 there were over 3,539 fines issued on firms and individuals across the regime.

Treasury: Child Care Vouchers

Tracy Brabin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of eligible employees of his Department use childcare vouchers.

Elizabeth Truss: 8.5% of eligible HM Treasury employees use childcare vouchers. The childcare voucher scheme is a salary sacrifice scheme which means that an employee agrees to a reduction in their taxable salary, and receives the equivalent amount in childcare vouchers instead.

Prime Minister

Social Mobility Commission

Jo Platt: To ask the Prime Minister, how many times she met with (a) Alan Milburn in his capacity as Chair or (b) Baroness Gillian Shephard in her capacity as Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission during their tenure at that Commission.

Mrs Theresa May: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues, officials and others.

Department for Work and Pensions

Jobcentres: Liverpool

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many visits were made to jobcentres in (a) Edge HIll and (b) Wavertree each (i) day, (ii) week and (iii) month by claimants who were required to report to those jobcentres every two weeks in 2017.

Alok Sharma: The information requested is not available because our Management Information is not recorded/collated in that format. However, using the average claimant volumes for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit Live Service customers who are normally required to attend on a fortnightly basis, an estimation of numbers visiting Edge Hill and Wavertree Jobcentres daily would be: Edge Hill – 159Wavertree – 96

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Ged Killen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January to Question 123049, if the Government will review the guidelines for decisions on mandatory reconsiderations for employment support allowance claims to take account of the decline in the number of cases in which the mandatory reconsideration decision is upheld since the introduction of that system.

Sarah Newton: Mandatory reconsideration benefits claimants, as it enables (i) the Department to provide a clear explanation of the decision; (ii) the claimant a further opportunity to present their case, including providing new evidence; and (iii) crucially, for decisions to be changed at the earliest opportunity, when appropriate. The overturn rate of appeals does not mean that mandatory reconsideration is not working. The main reason decisions are overturned on appeal is due to additional evidence, both oral and written, being provided at tribunal, which was not previously available at the initial decision or the mandatory reconsideration stage.There are strands of work in progress to drive continuous improvement in the appeals process. This includes improving the way further evidence is collected to ensure all relevant information is available to decision makers at the earliest opportunity and the recruitment of approximately 150 Presenting Officers who represent DWP cases at Tribunals and provide valuable insight into why decisions are overturned.

Capita: Complaints

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been made to Capita on the disability benefit assessment process since 2010; and how many of those complaints were upheld by (a) Capita (b) DWP and (c) the Ombudsman.

Sarah Newton: Capita commenced their delivery of the Personal Independent Payment contract in June 2013. Since the beginning of their contract Capita has received 15,666 complaints of which 9,834 were upheld by Capita. The number of upheld complaints equates to 1.03% of the number of referrals to Capita during the same period. Capita’s complaint process signposts complainants to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) in the event that they are dissatisfied with the providers final response to their complaint. The Independent Case Examiner (ICE) is an independent complaints review service which investigates complaints about the Department for Work and Pensions and its providers. Data from ICE can only be provided from 2015 as records are only kept for the last three years. Over this three year period there were 17 complaints escalated to ICE for the Capita PIP contract of which six were partially upheld and one was fully upheld. The remaining 10 were not upheld. DWP does not hold information about the number of complaints the Ombudsman received about Capita for 2010 to 2012. For the reporting years 2013 to 2017 the Ombudsman received eight enquiries about Capita Business Services Ltd. However we are unable to identify if these are in relation to the PIP Capita contract specifically. None of the eight enquiries progressed to an investigation.

Social Security Benefits: Correspondence

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the use of second-class letter deliveries posted seven days in advance fulfil the requirement of (a) Capita and (b) other companies to give one week’s notice of assessments to claimants.

Sarah Newton: It is departmental policy that claimants are given sufficient notification of any appointment to attend for an assessment. Capita are one of the providers of Personal Independence Payment assessment reports. Every case returned by Capita or other Assessment Providers where the claimant has not attended the PIP appointment are checked to ensure that they have had the full 7 days, ensuring that no one is penalised where this has not been the case. I have been informed by the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments and the Independent Assessment Services that they do not use 2nd class post when inviting claimants for assessment appointments. All providers also have the ability to change the appointment.

Mortgages: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in Wales were in receipt of support for mortgage interest in each year since 2010.

Kit Malthouse: The table below gives the Department’s estimates of the caseload in Wales of Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) split by financial year.  2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/162016/17Caseload, thousands15141311997Table 1: Estimated SMI caseload in Wales by calendar year Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 cases.

Mortgages: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of support for mortgage interest in Wales have applied for the loan scheme scheduled to begin on 6 April 2018.

Kit Malthouse: All existing recipients of support for mortgage interest are being contacted, provided with information and offered loans so do not need to apply. Data on the number of these claimants by region is not available.

Children: Maintenance

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the 12-month time period within which a child maintenance agreement within a consent order cannot be overruled by the Child Maintenance Service.

Kit Malthouse: The right of application to the statutory scheme of child maintenance by either parent where a consent order is 12 months or more old ensures that maintenance arrangements best reflect parents’ current circumstances. This aligns with the Child Maintenance Service’s annual review of the paying parent’s liability based on their latest available income figure. We have no plans to change the 12 month time period.

Universal Credit: Lone Parents

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of the lone parent work allowance.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the current level of the lone parent work allowance.

Alok Sharma: We have not made a formal assessment of the impact of the work allowance and have no current plans to do so. The Department is helping families keep more of what they earn by increasing Work Allowances by 3% from April 2018.

Universal Credit: Prisoners

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Justice on the merits of awarding universal credit to prisoners who are nearing completion of their sentence before they leave prison.

Kit Malthouse: We are currently working with the Ministry of Justice to look at ways of developing the service for prison leavers claiming Universal Credit on release.In the month leading up to their release, Prisoner Work Coaches can support prisoners in preparation to make a claim to Universal Credit. Following recent improvements to Universal Credit advances, claimants, including prison leavers, can now apply to receive up to 100% of their expected monthly entitlement from day one of their claim. Ministry of Justice and DWP are working collaboratively to ensure that prison leavers receive financial support and gain stability to find work on their day of release.

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Table 5.9 of the Office for Budget Responsibility' report Welfare Trends, published in January 2018, that more than 300,000 self-employed workers will lose an average of over £3,000 a year under universal credit.

Alok Sharma: The effect set out in Table 5.9 of the Office for Budget Responsibility Report ‘Welfare Trends’, published in January 2018, is due to the Minimum Income Floor, which seeks to incentivise those in gainful self-employment, who earn less than they could expect to earn as an employee at minimum wage, to grow their earnings and become more productive and self-sufficient in the long term. As the OBR say in its report, “the large implied losses per claimant are likely to prompt behavioural responses”, and we expect that some self-employed claimants will respond to this by increasing their monthly earnings from self-employment, some will choose to work as an employee, and others will combine the two. All are potentially good outcomes for them, their families and the taxpayer.

Children: Maintenance

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people comply with their child maintenance responsibilities.

Kit Malthouse: The Department has wide-ranging powers to collect and enforce child maintenance liabilities where parents will not meet their obligations voluntarily. As of September 2017 11,100 civil enforcement actions were in progress, around 4000 more than the previous year. A public consultation on a new Compliance and Arrears Strategy containing measures aimed at increasing compliance, closed on 8th February 2018. A Government response to this consultation will be published in due course.

New Businesses: Disability

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, What support the Government provides to entrepreneurs who have disabilities.

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support entrepreneurs who have disabilities.

Sarah Newton: An individual whose health condition or disability affects the way they work and who is employed - including self-employed entrepreneurs - or about to enter employment, can apply to Access to Work for a discretionary support grant of up to £42,100 per year. The scheme can provide a range of practical advice and financial support, including support workers, travel to work, supportive technologies and access to a specialist Mental Health Support Service. The Government also provides a range of business support for entrepreneurs, including those with disabilities, such as: The Business Finance & Support Finder Tool’ on GOV.UK, which helps businesses find government backed support and finance.British Business Bank programmes, supporting over £4 billion of finance to more than 65,000 smaller businesses in the UKThe Start-Up loans programme, which has delivered more than 53,000 loans, totalling over £383mThe Business Support Helpline, which provides information and guidance over the phone, via email, webchat and social media and handled over 40,000 interactions in 2016.Support for, and investment in, a network of Growth Hubs to simplify the business support landscape.In addition, people who are claiming certain benefits, including people with disabilities, may be eligible for DWP’s New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) scheme; which may help them to start their own businesses and become entrepreneurs. 23,920 (22%) of NEA trading starts were made by people who had a declared disability.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Records

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the merits of combining the assessment of medical records for Personal Independence Payments and Employment and Support Allowance claimants.

Sarah Newton: In Improving Lives The Future of Work, Health and Disability, the Government set out its vision for all claimants to experience a streamlined assessment process for both Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance, enabled by secure, timely sharing of relevant data between benefits systems. We are exploring options for data-sharing between these benefits, informed by relevant consultation responses received through the Improving Lives consultation responses.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory PIP reconsiderations resulted in the original decision being upheld in 2016-2017.

Sarah Newton: The number of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) Mandatory Reconsiderations (MRs) cleared can be found in the official published statistics: “Data tables: Personal Independence Payment: Official Statistics to October 2017”. The relevant data can be found in Table 7b. This data shows the number of mandatory reconsiderations for New Claims and Reassessments broken down by month since PIP was introduced and split by outcome type: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-october-2017 Latest available data to October 2017.

Universal Credit: Disqualification

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her policy is on claimants of universal credit being sanctioned where they have (a) left a job and (b) been dismissed from a workplace where they were (i) treated unfairly, (ii) asked to carry out work without training and (iii) asked to work extra hours with no extra pay.

Alok Sharma: Claimants can be sanctioned for leaving a job or being dismissed from the workplace for misconduct without good reason. However, we recognise that sometimes there are very good reasons for a claimant to act in a certain way, and that is why claimants are given every opportunity to explain why their employment ended, or whether there were particular mitigating circumstances in each case, before a decision on a sanction is made. A Decision Maker then takes all the claimant’s individual circumstances and any evidence of good reason for leaving employment into account before making a decision.

Social Security Benefits: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of her Department's decisions on claims for (a) personal independence payment and (b) employment support allowance have been overturned at tribunal in (i) Newport East and (ii) Wales in each year since 2010.

Sarah Newton: The table below shows the number of PIP decisions and the number and percentage of these decisions overturned at tribunal in Newport East and Wales for each of the last 4 years since PIP was introduced. The decisions overturned will include decisions which were changed at mandatory reconsideration, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award. It also includes cases that have been lapsed. Regulations allow Decision Makers (DMs) to review an appeal prior to submission to the tribunal. If the DM makes a revised decision wholly in the claimants favour this is classed as a lapsed appeal and negates the need for consideration by the tribunal.  Wales Newport East PIP decisionsPIP Appeals OverturnedOverturned as a % of PIP decisions PIP decisionsPIP Appeals OverturnedOverturned as a % of PIP decisionsYear of claim decision   2013/145,470601% 150##2014/1557,5802,3104% 1,460604%2015/1647,0702,7306% 1,070605%2016/1770,1103,8205% 1,600704% Data has been rounded to the nearest 10 and nearest percent.‘#’ means fewer than 5 in this category. Data on appeals overturned is up to September 2017. The information for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is not readily available and can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Jobcentres: Glasgow

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of customers who attend Parkhead Jobcentre have been sent a letter informing them of the upcoming closure of the premises.

Alok Sharma: Since 2 February 2018, a letter has been issued to every Parkhead Jobcentre customer who is on a Work Coach’s caseload about the closure of the office. The closure has also been communicated verbally with every customer who has visited the office. Posters have been on display around the jobcentre about the closure and shared with relevant organisations and stakeholders including GP surgeries. Additionally, posters have been on display in the Medical Assessment Centre at Cadogan Street in Glasgow to alert people attending medicals of all the impending closures and mergers. Finally, our partner organisations, including local Citizens Advice Scotland offices and housing associations, have been kept fully informed about the closure.

Work Capability Assessment: Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work capability assessments are carried out through the medium of Welsh.

Sarah Newton: The Work Capability Assessment provider, Centre for Health and Disability Assessments, does not hold records of the number of assessments carried out through the medium of Welsh.

Work Capability Assessment: Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many assessors are able to carry out work capability assessments in the Welsh language by constituency in Wales.

Sarah Newton: The Work Capability Assessment provider, Centre for Health and Disability Assessments has engaged the services of a fully accredited Welsh speaking doctor to conduct assessments. The doctor will be conducting assessments across all Welsh constituencies.

Personal Independence Payment: Carers

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,  what account will be taken in the review of PIP entitlements where a person becomes entitled to the upper rate care component and has a living carer and who has previously paid the spare room subsidy to refund that subsidy.

Kit Malthouse: The review of Personal Independence Payment entitlement has no impact on the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy where a person has a carer resident in their accommodation.

Personal Independence Payment: Mental Health

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government expects to complete its review of claimants who were previously disallowed personal independent payments.

Sarah Newton: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 February 2018 to Question UIN 125608.

Universal Credit: Telephone Services

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of communications sent out by Jobcentre Plus that include reference to the premium rate universal credit helpline number since 18 October 2017.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,  what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who did not call the Universal Credit helpline as a result of believing that it was a premium rate number.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the premium rate helpline number for universal credit is not included in communications by JobCentre Plus.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of cost to her Department of  the continued use of a premium rate number to play a recorded message to callers diverting them elsewhere.

Alok Sharma: The Universal Credit telephone numbers previously used by the Department were not premium rate numbers and it is misleading to refer to them in this way. The 0345 numbers that were in use were charged at local rate and are included in the call packages of most mobile and landline phone deals. Any customer who raised a concern about the costs of calling the Department was offered a call back. We have no evidence that people did not call because they believed the service was a premium rate number. To ensure that customers dial the correct numbers, the Department has embarked on an exercise to update all its products. The Department’s electronic media, such as SMS text messages and Gov.uk website, were updated as the new freephone numbers were introduced. System generated notifications for Universal Credit Full Service were updated on 28 November. System notifications for Universal Credit Live Service were updated between 28 November and 31 January 2018. During the period that our products were being updated, any calls to a 0345 number were played a message that told them that that number had been replaced with a Freephone number, whilst giving them the new Freephone number to use. The current monthly cost to the Department for playing the recorded messages to provide the new freephone numbers is approximately £300.

Social Security Benefits: Employment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her current policy is on the use of work incentives in the benefit system.

Alok Sharma: Work is the pillar of a strong economy and a strong society and we believe that work should always pay, that there should be a welfare system that provides strong work incentives, helps people into work and supports people who need help. Universal Credit is transforming the welfare system and incentivising work by making work pay. It simplifies the system and provides a single payment for people in or out of work which ensures that people are always better off working and better off working more. There are none of the cliff edges or complicated hours rules of the old system, just a single, simple, taper so payments reduce in a transparent and predictable way as earnings increase. Our research has found, compared to the old system, people on Universal Credit are more likely to be in work after 6 months, spend more time looking for a job, more time looking to increase their earnings and will actually consider work they would not have considered doing before. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/644541/universal-credit-employment-impact-analysis-update.pdf https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-understanding-how-it-influences-employment-behaviour

Mortgages: Gower

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in Gower were in receipt of support for mortgage interest in each year since 2010.

Kit Malthouse: The Department does not hold the data requested. The data needed to make robust estimates of the number of recipients of Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) at geographies smaller than Government Office Region is not available to Departmental analysts.

Employment and Support Allowance: Tribunals

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many tribunal hearings for appeals against the award of Employment Support Allowance were attended by presenting officers; and how many of the original decisions were (a) upheld and (b) overturned between 1 December 2016 and 31 December 2017.

Sarah Newton: The information is not readily available, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Carillion: Insolvency

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Cabinet Office of 15 January 2018, on Carillion, if she will place the annual reports of the 14 pension schemes forming part of the Carillion Group in the Library.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit: PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department takes to validate the PAYE data it receives from HMRC on the amounts paid to claimants of universal credit.

Alok Sharma: Before Pay As You Earn (PAYE) data is used by Universal Credit, an individual’s details are validated against both the DWP Customer Information System and HMRC’s Citizen’s Identification Framework to ensure they match between both government departments. This ensures the correct HMRC PAYE data is being used by Universal Credit for each individual. If the details do not match, the cases are investigated manually. Once an individual’s details have been successfully matched the HMRC Real Time Information System sends PAYE data to the DWP Real Time Earnings System. As the PAYE data is received, the DWP Real Time Earnings System performs a series of validation checks to ensure the correct PAYE data is used in Universal Credit payment calculations. This process validates for missing or incorrect data, including duplicate data, and also validates for Employer corrections and errors.

Mortgages: Interest Payments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has undertaken an equality impact assessment of the planned changes to Support for Mortgage Interest; how many SMI claimants are (a) pensioners and (b) disabled people; and if she will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: As part of the Impact Assessment for the conversion of Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) from a benefit to a loan, the Department published the findings of its Equality Analysis:http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2017/117/pdfs/ukia_20170117_en.pdfThis contains information on pensioners and disabled people in receipt of SMI.

Mortgages: Interest Payments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125704, on Mortgages: Interest Payments, by what date her Department plans to have contacted all claimants of support for mortgage interest to offer the new support for mortgage interest loan.

Kit Malthouse: By the end of February 2018 we will have made written contact with all current claimants of support for mortgage interest (SMI). This initial contact is followed up by a telephone discussion and these are expected to be completed by April 2018. It is possible, in cases where vulnerable claimants require the appointment of a Power of Attorney representative, that this process may not be completed by April. Transitional provisions are in place to ensure that SMI payments can continue in such circumstances.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have appealed against their original personal independence payment assessment; and how many of those appeals were successful.

Sarah Newton: The number of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) appeals cleared can be found in the official published statistics: “Tribunals and gender recognition certificate statistics quarterly – July to September 2017”. The relevant data can be found in Table SSCS.3 in the “Data Tables” document. This data shows the number of appeals cleared and their outcomes as a proportion. The data is broken down by year and quarter: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2017 The appeals and overturned figures from the Ministry of Justice statistics will include appeals not related to the decision (e.g. failure to submit the form in time).

Personal Independence Payment

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the roll-out of personal independence; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: The Personal Independence Payment assessment process has been subject to two independent reviews carried out by Paul Gray. The Government has responded to both reviews, most recently on 18 December 2017, and has accepted or partially accepted all 28 recommendations received. In 2016 DWP commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct independent research with PIP claimants covering all aspects of the PIP journey, from initial claim, the assessment process through to mandatory reconsideration and appeal. The first phase of the research, examining the initial claims process, was published in the Department’s research report series in March 2017. Interim headline findings from the second wave, covering assessments and decisions, were published in December 2017. A full report covering all three waves of research will be published later this year.

Social Security: Personal Income

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned into Basic Income schemes since 2010.

Alok Sharma: DWP has not undertaken any research on this specific topic.

Social Security Benefits: Dementia

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, at what age a person with dementia is eligible for benefit entitlement as a result of that condition.

Sarah Newton: Entitlement to benefit is not dependent on a specific diagnosis, meaning that claimants may apply at any age above the minimum age requirement specific to each individual benefit claimed. For those diagnosed with dementia, once the impact is such that a person has care or mobility needs which may give rise to additional costs, they may apply for a disability benefit.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the revised guidance issued to staff as a result of the changes to universal credit announced in Autumn Budget 2017.

Alok Sharma: DWP is committed to refreshing the information deposited in the House of Commons Library on Universal Credit on a regular basis, including when there are significant changes, such as those announced at the Autumn Budget. The Budget changes are being introduced through the early part of 2018 and will all be implemented by the end of April 2018. I will update the Library in full at that time.

Child Maintenance Service: Training

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's Response to the Work and Pension Committee’s Fourteenth Report of Session 2016–17, Child Maintenance: Government Response to the House of Commons, HC 354, how many employees within the Child Maintenance Service have received specialist domestic abuse training.

Kit Malthouse: During the Child Maintenance application process, clients can identify to us that they were subject to domestic violence. Whilst we do not specifically advise clients on domestic violence, caseworkers across both Child Maintenance Service and Child Support Agency are trained to signpost clients to relevant organisations where appropriate. In addition, more detailed training will be rolled out beginning 5th March to over 4000 CMS caseworkers, which has been designed, working with partner organisations, to help caseworkers handle calls sensitively, understand and recognise domestic abuse, and respond appropriately to clients who are victims of domestic abuse.

Department for Work and Pensions: Training

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether (a) specialist, (b) face to face and (c) ongoing training on domestic abuse is provided to employees working in its frontline services.

Kit Malthouse: Training for DWP staff in front line roles provides face to face and e-learning modules on how we can best serve our vulnerable customers, including victims of domestic abuse. Frontline staff are also trained to refer customers to appropriate specialist support.

Social Security Benefits

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons her Department removed the simple payment method in March 2018 for benefit claimants without a bank account.

Kit Malthouse: The department continues to provide an exception payment service for benefit recipients. Citibank is currently the contractor for that service and is being replaced by i-movo. All current simple payment recipients will move to the i-movo service by the end of March 2018.

Universal Credit: Voucher Schemes

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the reasons were for the decision that the voucher scheme would give universal credit claimants £100 a time rather than the monthly paid benefit payable under the simple payment method.

Kit Malthouse: The simple payment service is being replaced by a new payment service. Customers can still receive payment at a PayPoint outlet but payment will be limited to £100 per transaction. Customers with higher than £100 entitlement can make multiple transactions at the same PayPoint outlet on the same day, subject to funds available from that outlet. The Department continues to encourage and support benefit customers, where possible, to receive payment via a bank, building society or a credit union account which does not have a similar restriction.

Personal Independence Payment: Terminal Illnesses

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many terminally ill personal independence payment claimants were assessed as fit to work; and how many and what proportion of those claimants were considered as ineligible for the enhanced daily rate in each year since 2013.

Sarah Newton: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is available to claimants whether they are in or out of work and it does not test fitness or capacity to work. Claimants who are terminally ill and who have a life expectancy of less than six months have their claims fast tracked and are automatically entitled to the enhanced rate of the PIP daily living component. Information on the number of people receiving PIP, whether they are terminally ill or not and the rates received, is available using Stat-Xplore: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.

Home Office

Immigration: EU Nationals

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects to be able to announce the package of benefits, pensions, healthcare, economic and other rights EU citizens will maintain under the new immigration status.

Caroline Nokes: The Prime Minister has been clear that safeguarding the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU was her first priority for negotiations. The citizens’ rights agreement reached in December, and set out in our Joint Report, will provide EU citizens living in the UK with certainty about their rights going forward. It will enable families who have built their lives together to stay together, and not only gives more certainty about residence, but also access to healthcare, pensions and other benefits.

Road Traffic Offences: Police

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been prosecuted for driving offences committed while on duty in each of the last five years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold the information requested centrally.

Refugees: France

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to discuss with the French Minister of the Interior (a) the transfer of refugees for family reunification (b) the creation of safe and legal routes for child refugees and vulnerable adults and (c) the creation of reception centres for child refugees in France while their family reunification applications are processed.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Secretary met with French Interior Minister Collomb, at the UK France summit on 18 January 2018. They discussed a range of issues in relation to UK and France’s joint efforts to manage illegal migration, including our shared border and our ongoing commitment to effectively implement respective obligations to unaccompanied children and families. Further details can be found in my Written Ministerial Statement of 19 January 2018.

Home Office: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many contracts her Department holds with Government strategic suppliers.

Victoria Atkins: The information on the Government Strategic suppliers contracts is published on www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk

Engineers and Scientists: Visas

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many scientists and engineers have been refused a Tier 2 (General) Certificate of Sponsorship since November 2017 due to the annual cap having been reached; which Standard Occupational Classification codes have been affected by that cap; and how many applications have been refused for each such code.

Caroline Nokes: The specific information requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office. The number of restricted certificates of sponsorship granted, and the points threshold, for each monthly allocation since April 2016 is published on the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-sponsorship-restricted-certificate-allocations/allocations-of-restricted-certificates-of-sponsorship

Veterinary Services: Vacancies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123208, if she will include veterinary surgeons to the shortage occupation list before the UK leaves the EU,

Caroline Nokes: The Shortage Occupation List is based on advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC has carried out two full reviews and four partial reviews of the Shortage Occupation List since May 2010. Further information about the MAC’s methodology and the reviews it has carried out are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/migration-advisory-committee. In seeking to develop an immigration system that serves the national interest, in July 2017, we commissioned the MAC to advise on the economic and social impacts of the UK’s exit from the European Union and also on how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy – which will inform our decisions on the future system. The MAC has been asked to report by September 2018.

Female Genital Mutilation

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of female genital mutilation have been reported under Section 5B of the Genital Mutilation Act 2003 since 2010.

Victoria Atkins: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse. We will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. Whilst we do not currently collect data centrally on the number of reports made to the police under the FGM Mandatory Reporting Duty, we are considering how this data could be collected in future as part of the police Annual Data Requirement.

National Police Air Service

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many helicopters are stationed in each of the bases of the National Police Air Service (NPAS); and on how many days has each such base had no operational aircraft available for each fiscal year since the NPAS was created.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold the information requested. This is an operational matter for the National Police Air Service.

Radicalism: Internet

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department is giving to the Web Guardians programme.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Home Office supports civil society organisations to deliver activity locally as part of the Prevent strategy. Web Guardians, run by the JAN Trust, is one of the programmes that have been supported in this way. It aims to helps mothers use the internet and keep their children safe online from the risks of radicalisation.

Slavery

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to set up (a) care standards and (b) an inspection regime to improve standards of care for victims of modern slavery.

Victoria Atkins: As part of the recently announced package of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), Government committed to adopting the Trafficking Survivor Care Standards drafted by the Human Trafficking Foundation with contributions from a range of non-governmental organisations, including a number of subcontractors of the Victim Care Contract.We are currently working with stakeholders, including subcontractors of the Victim Care Contract, to update the standards and design a compliance regime. The standards will then be incorporated into future care contracts for adult victims of modern slavery. In the meantime, we will work with subcontractors to ensure they are meeting the minimum standards.

Slavery

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent of variations across the regions and constituent parts of the UK in approaches to tackling modern slavery; and if she will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: The 2017 Annual Report on Modern Slavery contains a range of analyses on how modern slavery is tackled across the country and how law enforcement agencies respond to the issue across jurisdictions in England and Wales.The report is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/2017-uk-annual-report-on-modern-slaveryThe 2017 HMICFRS report on the policing response to modern slavery includes further information and assessment of current law enforcement response variations.The report is available at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/stolen-freedom-the-policing-response-to-modern-slavery-and-human-trafficking.pdfThe Home Office remains committed to working closely with the police and other external stakeholders to ensure a more consistent and unified response to modern slavery across the UK.

Slavery: Vietnam

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Vietnamese children arrested by the Police were referred to the National Referral Mechanism in the last 12 months.

Victoria Atkins: The Government does not hold the specific information you have requested.The National Crime Agency publishes statistics on referrals into the National Referral Mechanism on a quarterly basis. These statistics include the breakdown of referrals for children by nationality. These statistics also breakdown the number of children referred to the National Referral Mechanism by police forces.These reports are available via the following link: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics

Slavery: Vietnam

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Vietnamese children referred to the National Referral Mechanism received a conclusive grounds decision; and how many Vietnamese children that received that decision were given leave to remain in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: The National Crime Agency publishes statistics on referrals into the National Referral Mechanism on a quarterly basis. These statistics includes the breakdown of referrals for children by nationality. These reports are available via the following links:http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statisticshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2017-uk-annual-report-on-modern-slaveryThe specific information you have requested is not currently published. Statistics on the total number of people granted discretionary leave for all reasons can be found online at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017-data-tables

British Nationality: Children

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much parents with no recourse to public funds must pay to establish that their children are UK nationals.

Caroline Nokes: A child born in the UK will be a British citizen if at the time of the birth one or more of their parents is settled or a British citizen. Evidence of these facts is sufficient to establish that a child is British.

Hezbollah: Flags

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what records her Department holds on complaints to the police about the display of Hezbollah flags at the Al-Quds Day rally in London on 18 June 2017.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Home Office does not hold records of complaints made to the police about the display of Hezbollah flags at the 2017 Al-Quds Day rally in London.

Slavery

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse is for using the US non-governmental organisation Polaris to set up a helpline for victims on modern slavery; and how many times the helpline has been used since its establishment.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office does not fund any aspect of the Modern Slavery Helpline which is run by the charity, Unseen and is completely independent of Government. Information about the number and types of calls received by the Modern Slavery Helpline can be found on the Unseen website www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/information/stats

Visas: Overseas Students

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of credibility interviews for Tier 4 visa applications that have taken place since 2010.

Caroline Nokes: The specific information that has been requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office. Information on the number of applications and decisions (i.e. grants, refusals, withdrawn and lapsed cases) is published quarterly in the Home Office’s Immigration Statistics, Visas volume 1, table vi_01_q, latest edition at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2017

Immigration: Advisory Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigration advisers were registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) in each year since 2016; how many complaints the OISC received about immigration advisers registered with them in each of those years; how many complaints resulted in a OISC reported wrongdoing on the part of the adviser; and in how many such cases the OISC (a) took action against the adviser and (b) referred the complaint.

Caroline Nokes: The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner’s (OISC) annual report and accounts sets out the number of immigration advisors, including the levels at which they are registered, the number of complaints received and how the OISC dealt with those complaints, and the regulatory action that may be taken against organisations which are found to be in breach of the Commissioner’s Code of Standards. The reports for 2015/16 and 2016/17 can be viewed on the OISC’s websitehttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/583681/10574-OISC_Annual_Report_2016_Accessible2.pdfandhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/677182/OISCAnnualReportAcounts2016.pdf.Information relating to the period between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018 will be included in the OISC’s 2017/18 annual report and accounts.

Police: Firearms

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional costs have been incurred on PFI contracts for police buildings that are used to train firearms officers in (a) the Metropolitan police and (b) other police forces in each of the last three years.

Mr Nick Hurd: This information is not held centrally.

Hezbollah

Mrs Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Security of 19 December 2017, Official Report, column 1008, how her Department differentiates between members of the political and military wings of Hezbollah, and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Government distinguishes between those parts of Hizbollah which are involved in Lebanese politics (and that maintains a social welfare network that encompasses education and health services) and those which are actively concerned in terrorism (and are responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of terrorist attacks). The activity an individual in Hizbollah is engaged in will contribute to what part of the organisation they belong to.

Burglary: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the capacity of local police forces in London to investigate burglaries.

Mr Nick Hurd: We expect the police to take all reported crimes (including burglary) seriously, to investigate and, where appropriate, for offenders to be prosecuted and receive appropriate sentences.Overall the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has the resources it needs to police London. The MPS has the most officers per head of population (378) and a quarter of all police officers in England and Wales. The funding settlement agreed by the House on 7 February will provide the Mayor of London with almost £50m of additional funding in 2018/19.

National Police Air Service

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) average response times and (b) total hours flown were for helicopters at each of the bases of the National Police Air Service in each fiscal year since that service was created.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding was allocated by each Police and Crime Commissioner area for the running of the National Police Air Service in each fiscal year since that service was created.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police road pursuits of vehicles were abandoned due to a lack of air support in each year since 2009-10.

Mr Nick Hurd: The NPAS Strategic Board, comprised of PCCs and Chief Constables representing all regions of England and Wales, is responsible for overseeing the service. NPAS publish annual reports covering the service’s financial position and operational performance.HMICFRS published a study into Police Air Support on 30 November 2017. NPAS and the National Police Chief’s Council have both published information on work they are undertaking in response to the study’s findings.

Forensic Science

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department took to minimise risk in response to the National Audit Office report on The Home Office's oversight of forensic services, published in January 2015.

Mr Nick Hurd: This was a briefing paper for the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. The Home Office published its Forensic Science Strategy in March 2016 setting out how policing would deliver a national approach to forensic science delivery, supported by the Home Office.

Antisemitism

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the Community Security Trust's Antisemitic Incidents Report 2017.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office is committed to addressing all forms of hate crime. In July 2016, the Department published Action Against Hate: The UK Government’s Plan for Tackling Hate Crime.The Government will refresh this action plan in 2018, working closely with a wide network of partners and stakeholders including the Community Security Trust (CST).

Internet: Fraud

Andrew Percy: To ask the Minister for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to improve awareness among older people of internet scams.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign is designed to help encourage the public to protect themselves from fraud and scams, providing advice on specific protective behaviours including around phishing. The campaign was developed jointly by industry, Government experts and the Joint Fraud Taskforce. Take Five has partnered with a number of organisations including Neighbourhood Watch, National Trading Standards and Age UK to ensure awareness is raised amongst older people.

Police: Firearms

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the length of time is for firearms training for Authorised Firearms Officers in each police force in the UK.

Mr Nick Hurd: Officers must undertake the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum – a programme of nationally accredited training for armed officers. However, the length of armed officer training is an operational matter for individual chief officers. The length of courses also varies according to the duties likely to be undertaken.

Wildlife: Crime

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative estimate he has made of the number of police forces with a fully trained wildlife crime officer in 2010 and 2018.

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative estimate she has made of the number of fully trained wildlife crime officers in 2010 and 2018.

Mr Nick Hurd: It is for elected Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to decide how their force’s resources are deployed and how best to manage their communications with the public.

Police: Finance

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the contribution to the public purse is of the policing precept by each police force.

Mr Nick Hurd: Police precept is set by Police and Crime Commissioner who receive all the income from police precept. Police precept levels are published each year by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics#council-tax-levels-set-by-local-authorities.

Visas: Married People

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether staff processing visa applications have been given any (a) guidance and (b) instructions on whether to deprioritise spouse visa applications.

Caroline Nokes: UKVI has not issued any guidance or instruction to deprioritise spouse visa applications.Staff continue to operate under published processing times which can be found online at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data (then listed by publication date under ‘UK Visas & Immigration’).

Visas

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the criteria are for visa applications to be designated as (a) complex, (b) non-straightforward and (c) outside service standards; and how many such applications have been so designated in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Nokes: Visa applications are considered to be complex when an Entry Clearance Officer determines that additional information is required in order for a decision to be made.There are no set standards for processing non-straightforward (identified as complex) by the caseworker. However, if an application is complex and expected to take longer than the standard processing timescale, UKVI will write to the customer within the standard processing time and explain what will happen next.The published information on processing times for complex/ non straightforward visa applications is published as part of the Migration Transparency data, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#uk-visas-and-immigration

Visas

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff have been employed to process visa applications in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Nokes: UK Visas and Immigration regularly reviews its capacity plans and resources and redeploys staff where necessary to help meet and maintain service standards for individual services or routes. However, to provide the number of officials usually employed to process visa applications across the business in each of the last ten years would require a manual check through resourcing databases, and would encounter disproportionate costs. Data on staffing within UK Visas & Immigration is published online at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#staffing-data For information, UKVI figures are published quarterly on gov.uk from 2014 at https://www.gov.uk/search?q=border-and-immigration-cross-cutting-data Previous to this, UKBA data can be found in the Annual Report & Accounts –https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/120048/annual-report-201011.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/143619/annual-report-2011-12.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2012-to-2013

Visas

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time has been for each type of visa application in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Nokes: Published data on visa processing times, including the percentage of visas processed within published service standards, is published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data (then listed by publication date under ‘UK Visas & Immigration’).

Anti-corruption Champion

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2017 to PQ 113207, what progress has been made on the appointment of the anti-corruption tsar.

Mr Ben Wallace: John Penrose MP was announced as the Prime Minister's new Anti-Corruption Champion on 11 December 2017.

Antisemitism

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many anti-Semitic hate crimes have been reported in each of the last 12 months in (a) London Borough of Haringey, (b) London and (c) England.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of religious hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales by police force area. Data on religious hate crimes by police force area can be found in the Home Office Hate Crime Open Data Tables, available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/651719/hate-crime-1617-hosb1717-tables.ods For religious hate crimes, the Home Office began collecting information on the perceived religion of the victim on a mandatory basis in April 2017. These data are due to be published in the next hate crime statistical bulletin in autumn 2018. This Government is committed to tackling hate crime. The UK has a strong legislative framework to tackle hate crime. We are working across Government with police, (including National Community Tensions Team), the Crown Prosecution Service and community partners to send out a clear message that hate crime will not be tolerated and we will vigorously pursue and prosecute those who commit these crimes.

Firearms: Licensing

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the consistency of adherence to relevant medical guidelines on firearms licensing across the UK.

Mr Nick Hurd: We know that there is significant variation in how GPs respond to this request. We have been in discussions with the police, the relevant medical bodies and representatives of shooting organisations about how greater consistency can be achieved across police force areas in England and Wales.

Junior Doctors: Migrant Workers

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for Tier 2 visas for junior doctors were declined in the past 12 months.

Caroline Nokes: The information you have requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office. Information on the total number of Tier 2 refusals can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2017/list-of-tables#visas

Immigrants: Detainees

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of deaths of detainees held in immigration detention centres.

Caroline Nokes: The prevention of deaths in detention is a priority for the Home Office. The adults at risk in immigration detention policy, which came into force on 12 September 2016, was part of the Government’s response to Stephen Shaw’s review of the welfare of vulnerable people in immigration detention. It introduced a case-by-case evidence-based assessment of the appropriateness of detention for any individual who is considered vulnerable, balanced against the immigration control considerations that apply in their case. Mr. Shaw’s follow up to his original review started on 4 September 2017 and will include an assessment of the implementation of all of his earlier review recommendations. The treatment and health services received by individuals in immigration detention should be equivalent to that received by people in the community. Individuals are offered a physical and mental examination within 24 hours of admission to detention, and there is a requirement for IRC doctors to report to the Home Office any special illness or conditions that might affect the decision to continue the detention of an individual. There are also in place processes for staff to follow when there has been a change to the physical or mental health of a detainee, or a change in the nature or severity of their identified vulnerability, which may impact on the decision to detain. Staff at all immigration removal centres (IRC) are trained to identify those at risk of self harm so that action can be taken to minimise the risk. All incidents of self harm are treated very seriously and every step is taken to prevent incidents of this nature. Formal risk assessments on initial detention and systems for raising concerns at any subsequent point feed into established self harm procedures in every IRC, which are in turn underpinned by the Home Office Operating Standard on the prevention of self-harm and Detention Services Order 06/2008 Assessment Care in Detention Teamwork (ACDT). Each death in immigration detention is subject to investigation by the police, the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) and the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. Every effort is made to learn lessons from these investigations.

Visas

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February to Question 125811 on Administrative Mistakes, how many financial administrative mistakes her Department has made in relation to visa application renewals in each of the last seven years.

Caroline Nokes: The specific data requested is not published by the Home Office.

Asylum

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the data held by her Department on the average length of time taken to make a decision on an asylum support application.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office monitors closely the performance of asylum support application decision making and has a range of targets for processing support applications depending on the nature of the application being made. However information on processing times is not recorded in a format suitable for publication and there are no plans to publish such statistics at this time.

Asylum

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to publishing data on length of time taken for decisions to be made on applications for asylum support on a quarterly basis.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office monitors closely the performance of asylum support application decision making and has a range of targets for processing support applications depending on the nature of the application being made. However information on processing times is not recorded in a format suitable for publication and there are no plans to publish such statistics at this time.

Asylum: Housing

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department collects on the length of stay in initial accommodation for people applying for Section 95, non-emergency, asylum support.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office closely monitors the length of stay of asylum seekers in Initial Accommodation and aims to move people to Dispersed Accommodation within 19 days. However, some stay in Initial Accommodation for shorter or longer periods depending on their individual needs. Information on the length of stay of people in Initial Accommodation is not currently recorded in a format suitable for publication.

Police: Pensions

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123402, how many people are in receipt of a survivors' pension from the police pension scheme 1987; and how many people in receipt of a survivors' pension from that scheme have surrendered that pension upon remarriage or cohabitation.

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123402, what estimate she has made of the (a) annual and (b) total cost to the public purse of changing the rules of the police pension scheme 1987 to provide a pension for life to survivors regardless of remarriage or cohabitation; and what estimate she has made of the cost of reinstating those pensions that have already been surrendered.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of survivors’ pensions being paid from the 1987 police pension scheme or the number of survivors’ pensions surrendered on remarriage or cohabitation. The information is held by each Police Pension Authority.We have estimated with the Government’s Actuary’s Department, by using historical actuarial data, that the total cost of retaining benefits for all police survivors would increase the police scheme liabilities by around £144m. It is also estimated that retaining benefits for all police survivors, including reinstatement of pensions already surrendered, would increase the police scheme liabilities to around £198m. No annual estimate is available.

Doctors: Migrant Workers

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the minimum salary threshold for granting visas to overseas doctors with offers of employment in UK hospitals; and will she make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: The Tier 2 (General) minimum salary thresholds for overseas doctors were set following consultation with the independent Migration Advisory Committee and are based on pay scales published by the NHS – and have not been recently changed.

Health Professions: Vacancies

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will add (a) consultant and (b) non-consultant, non-training and medical staff posts in (i) general medicine, (ii) pathology, (iii) psychiatry, (iv) surgery and (v) anaesthetics to the United Kingdom Shortage Occupation list.

Caroline Nokes: Consultants and non-consultant, non-training, medical staff posts in general medicine and old age psychiatry appear on the current Tier 2 (General) Shortage Occupation List (SOL). All grades in anaesthetics appear on the Scotland specific SOL.The SOL is based on advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

Airguns

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department is making on its review of air weapons.

Mr Nick Hurd: We are reviewing the regulation of air weapons in England and Wales, and requested the views of interested parties by 6 February 2018. The review is looking at issues such as manufacturing standards, secure storage and whether current arrangements are sufficient to prevent children gaining access to air weapons. We will also take account of the arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland where air weapons are subject to a licensing regime. The Department has received a large number of representations on these topics, and we will consider them carefully before deciding how to proceed. We will publish the outcome of the review in due course.

Modern Slavery Helpline and Resource Centre

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on how many people who have contacted the Modern Slavery Helpline and Resource Centre have been referred to (a) Government and (b) non-government support organisations since 2016.

Victoria Atkins: The Modern Slavery Helpline is run by the charity, Unseen and is completely independent of Government. Information about the number and types of calls received by the Modern Slavery Helpline can be found on the Unseen website www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/information/stats or by contacting Unseen directly on https://www.unseenuk.org/contact-us

Offences against Children

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure services which support children who have experienced sexual abuse receive adequate funding.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is committed to ensuring that child victims of sexual abuse have the support that they need. We recognise that effective, timely support for victims is a matter of national importance. It is for this reason that Government has provided funding of £7 million for services supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence in each of the past three years, and will be doing so once more in 2018/19.

Wildlife: Crime

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police officers appointed as wildlife crime officers hold a range of other responsibilities.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government does not prescribe the nature or level of resources deployed by police forces to tackle wildlife crime. Whether wildlife crime officers focus solely on tackling wildlife crime, or hold a range of other responsibilities, are operational matters for police forces. It is for Police and Crime Commissioners to ensure that forces’ priorities reflect those of their communities, and individual forces must have the flexibility to deploy their resources without Government interference.

Asylum: Social Security Benefits

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2018 to question 121556, on Asylum, what steps her Department plans to take with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure refugees are not left destitute following a successful asylum application.

Caroline Nokes: Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with accommodation and a cash allowance to cover their other essential living needs. If they are granted refugee status this support stops 28 days after they are given notice of the decision and provided with a Biometric Residence Permit, which is the evidence they need to prove that they are able to take employment or apply for mainstream benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The permit now contains their national insurance number. The Home Office now has in place a scheme involving the Department for Work and Pensions which involves contacting the refugees at the pointwhen they are granted their status to see if they wish to apply for benefits and require assistance to do so. If they say they do, an appointment at a local DWP office is arranged for them. This process is designed to ensure that refugees receive the first payment of any benefit they are entitled to before the 28 days period expires, either by full payment of the benefit or an advance payment of Universal Credit where this is needed.

Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Anti-Slavery Commissioner on the greatest challenges to his effective work; and if she will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: Part 4 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 established the role of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. The Commissioner has a UK-wide remit to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of modern slavery offences and the identification of victims. In support of this, Ministers meet regularly with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to understand the challenges he is identifying and to ensure a collaborative approach to addressing them.

Asylum: Mental Health Services

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what psychological support is provided by her Department to victims of torture seeking asylum in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: All officials making decisions on asylum claims receive a dedicated five-week foundation training programme which includes specific sections on torture and medical reports, and ensuring alleged victims of torture are assessed fairly and sensitively. Staff working with asylum claimants are trained to identify mental health concerns but are not medically trained to identify the need for treatment. Where mental health concern is identified, the claimant is referred, or signposted, to medical or support services.

Asylum

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many current asylum applicants' claims have taken more than 182 days to process.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not publish data relating to the number of cases where a decision has been made after 6 months, however, the data on the number of cases awaiting decision for more than 6 months can be found on the tab ASY 11 in the below link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-november-2017

Asylum

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect the Government's hostile environment policy on the ability of asylum seekers to claim asylum in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: Anyone who wishes to claim asylum should do so at the first available opportunity. This usually means claiming in the first safe country they reach. Individuals are expected to claim asylum on arrival in the UK at the port of entry. Where a person’s circumstances have changed since arriving in the UK, such that they have a fear of persecution, or they did not claim on arrival for any reason, they should attend the Asylum Intake Unit in Croydon to register their claim. This process has not changed since the introduction of the compliant environment. The compliant environment is designed to protect public services and benefits from those who are not entitled to them, and incentivise immigration offenders to depart the UK voluntarily or regularise their status. It is a long-standing policy that asylum seekers are not normally allowed to work, but are entitled to access Home Office accommodation and support if they would otherwise be destitute while their claim is outstanding. Individuals who have had their asylum claim rejected and who have no other lawful basis to remain in the UK are able to access the Home Office’s Voluntary Returns Service. They provide support to those wishing to leave the UK, which can include financial support for reintegration.

Immigrants: Detainees

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons her Department has not yet responded to the North and Midlands Independent Monitoring Board for Short-term Holding Facilities, Annual Report 2016; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: Further to my earlier answers to the Honourable Member for Barnsley Central and the honourable Member for High Peak, I will review the annual report of the North and Midlands Independent Monitoring Board for Short-Term Holding Facilities and respond within the next two weeks.

Domestic Violence: Prosecutions

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of domestic abuse cases reported to her Department resulted in a prosecution in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: The Office for National Statistics publishes information on the number of domestic abuse incidents and crimes recorded by the police and the proportion of domestic abuse offences that resulted in a charge or a summons. The Crown Prosecution Service also publishes information on the number of domestic abuse prosecutions. Both sets of data are included in a cross government statistical bulletin ‘Domestic abuse in England and Wales: year ending March 2017’, which can be found at the link below:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2017

Sleeping Rough

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many rough sleepers have been (a) arrested and (b) prosecuted under the Vagrancy Act 1824 in (i) England and (ii) Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold centrally the information requested on the number of individuals arrested and prosecuted for rough sleeping.

Home Office: Written Questions

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to Question 122221 tabled on 11 January 2018 by the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon.

Caroline Nokes: UIN 122221 was answered on 20th February 2018

UK Visas and Immigration

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of UK Visas and Immigration's practice of returning important personal documents including (a) passports and (b) birth certificates by standard post.

Caroline Nokes: UK Visas and Immigration use various methods when returning valuable documents to its customers, this is clearly set out to customers as part of the application process. Customers have the option to arrange recorded or special delivery should they wish. Or to apply using our premium routes which allows them to make an application without giving their documents up at all.When we are informed of errors we work promptly to rectify them, including the loss of valuable documents. Customer feedback, including complaints, are taken into account to ensure we offer value for money; which includes improving the services we offer, the quality of the decisions we make and the provision of an excellent customer service.

Antifa

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will proscribe Antifa; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ben Wallace: We do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription.

Police Custody: Mental Illness

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) children and (b) adults spent time in a police station as a place of safety due to a mental health condition in each year since 2010.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of persons detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, including information on where the person is detained, and whether they are under 18 or aged 18 years and over. These data were first collected in 2016/17 and published as part of the ‘Police powers and procedures, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2017

Brook House Immigration Removal Centre

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department first become aware of detainee welfare concerns at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre.

Caroline Nokes: Detainee welfare concerns in Immigration Removal Centres can be raised at any point, to the Home Office, NHS (England) or the custodial supplier as appropriate. The BBC first made the Home Office aware of the specific issues later aired by Panorama on 24 August 2017. The Government takes the health and welfare of immigration detainees very seriously and expects the highest standards from those who manage the detention estate on its behalf.

Brook House Immigration Removal Centre

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of what led to concerns about detainee welfare at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre.

Caroline Nokes: The Government made an immediate assessment that G4S needed to take swift action against an agreed action plan to address necessary improvements at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. These improvements will ensure that the standards of detainee welfare expected by the Government are met. Progress against this plan is being closely monitored.Stephen Shaw is currently assessing progress against the recommendations in his report into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons published in January 2016. In addition, the G4S Board has commissioned an independent review to establish the factors affecting staff morale and behaviour and attitudes to whistleblowing. Neither independent review has reported yet. The Government will consider their findings very carefully in due course.Independent scrutiny is a vital part of assurance that our removal centres are secure and humane. The Government will continue to implement action in response to independent recommendations made by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons and by the centre’s Independent Monitoring Board.

Immigrants: Detainees

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who are (a) survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and (b) otherwise recognised as vulnerable under the Adults at Risk policy have been brought to immigration detention centres since 12 September 2016.

Caroline Nokes: This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Home Office: Contracts

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123744, on Home Office: Contracts, if her Department will publish its monitoring of the financial performance of strategic suppliers.

Victoria Atkins: Monitoring of the financial performance of strategic suppliers is commercially sensitive information and is not therefore published.

Asylum

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been open for a period of two years or longer prior to 6 February 2018.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not publish data relating to the number of cases where a decision has been made after 6 months, however, the data on the number of cases awaiting decision for more than 6 months can be found on the tab ASY 11 in the link below;https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-november-2017

Immigration: Appeals

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2018 to Question 121751, what steps her Department plans to take to monitor the effectiveness of those arrangements.

Caroline Nokes: As set out in the previous answer, the Department reviews allowed appeals in order to learn lessons. It should be noted that in many cases new evidence is often submitted at an appeal hearing, which was not available when the original decision was made. In addition to the Department’s own direct assurance, the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration also has a key role in looking the quality of departmental processes.

Deportation: Sudan

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to carry out post-removal monitoring of refugees sent back to Sudan to (a) ensure their safety and (b) collect data on any adverse consequences for them of their return.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government is in the process of drafting asylum seeker returns and readmission arrangements for Sudan.

Caroline Nokes: The Government does not return refugees to Sudan since such persons have been found to require international protection.Sudanese nationals who have, however, been found not to need protection and have no right to remain are expected to leave the UK. If they do not leave voluntarily we may seek to enforce their return on case-by-case basis, when it is safe to do so. We do not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK. They are, by definition, foreign nationals who have been found not to need protection and it would be inappropriate for us to assume any ongoing responsibility for them when they return to their country.Should the Home Office receive specific allegations that a returnee has experienced ill-treatment on return, it would be investigated in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.There are no plans to put in place asylum seeker returns and readmission arrangements for Sudan.

Asylum: Darfur

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of non-Arab Darfuri asylum seekers who had their asylum claims rejected in 2017.

Caroline Nokes: Information on asylum claimants is held on both the asylum case file and the main immigration database. This will include personal details of claimants and relatives such as claimed dates and places of birth, claimed religion, claimed ethnicity, as well as details of their asylum claims. The way this information is stored is such that it is often not possible to report on these information fields without conducting a manual search of both paper and electronic records. Therefore, we cannot identify how many asylum claims have been granted or refused leave from specific ethnicities or parts of the countries of origin. Published data relating to the outcomes of asylum claims from each country (including Sudan) can be found in tab as_01 at volume 1 of the quarterly Immigration Statistics release:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2017-data-tables

Northern Ireland Office

Unexplained Wealth Orders: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Home Secretary on the non-introduction of unexplained wealth orders in Northern Ireland and the potential effect that will have on tackling criminality.

Mr Shailesh Vara: My officials have been in regular contact with both the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Department of Justice (DoJ) in relation to the introduction of unexplained wealth orders (UWOs) in Northern Ireland. These orders, and several other elements of the Criminal Finances Act 2017, relate to devolved matters and require legislative consent. We will continue to work towards commencement in order to enhance the powers available to law enforcement to tackle criminality. This is one of the many issues that demonstrate that devolved government is in the best interests of everyone in Northern Ireland.

Marriage: Northern Ireland

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what her policy is on equal marriage for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland; and if she will bring forward legislative proposals on that policy.

Karen Bradley: In accordance with the Belfast Agreement, this is a devolved matter which should be addressed in the NI Assembly; but the power of the Westminster Parliament to legislate remains unaffected. If this issue were to be raised in Westminster, the Government’s policy is to allow a free vote on matters of conscience such as equal marriage.

Warm Home Discount Scheme: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on extending the Warm Homes Discount Scheme to Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Warm Home Discount Scheme was established under the Energy Act 2010. It does not extend to Northern Ireland, with energy policy devolved in Northern Ireland. As a devolved matter, I have not discussed its extension to Northern Ireland with colleagues in Government. Considering policy issues of this kind should be for a restored Executive, which is why it remains our priority to see devolution restored.

Bridges: Irish Sea

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of building a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The UK Government recognises the importance of having modern and accessible infrastructure throughout the country as essential to our future growth and prosperity. Our Industrial Strategy, and the Transport Investment Strategy that builds on it, provide an important opportunity to consider our approach to infrastructure and ensure our investment meets the needs of a more dynamic and mobile economy in a country that works for everyone. That is why we have established the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to advise us on investment. The NIC are in the process of producing a National Infrastructure Assessment, which will be published this year, containing recommendations for how our identified infrastructure needs and priorities should be addressed.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Capita

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many contracts his Department holds with Capita; and what the value of those contracts is.

Margot James: DCMS calls down from a cross-Government Framework agreement held by the Crown Commercial Service (Contingent Labour One). The spend on this for the financial year 2017/2018 is £3.5million.

Third Sector: Females

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to promote women's leadership in the charity and non-profit sector.

Tracey Crouch: Strong leadership is essential to a healthy charity and non-profit sector. Part of building strong leadership is ensuring that there are opportunities for those with the right talent, skills and knowledge to take on leadership roles, regardless of gender. Government is not currently taking an active role in promoting women’s leadership in the charity sector. However, in preparation for the upcoming Civil Society Strategy, we will be exploring the range of challenges and opportunities that face charities, including on the subject of leadership. Government is interested in hearing a broad range of views, and will use the responses to help shape support for the charity sector in the years ahead.

Charities: Fund Raising

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there are protections for workers from sexual harassment at charity galas and fundraising events.

Tracey Crouch: Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable and has no place in the name of charity or charitable fundraising.Charities have a duty to fundraise responsibly and in line with their values. Charity trustees must also consider the well-being and protection of staff, volunteers and beneficiaries – not just those they are there to help. The Charity Commission, the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales, is assessing and dealing with the allegations that have been raised regarding the Presidents Club Charitable Trust as a matter of urgency. It has said that it will deal robustly with any misconduct or mismanagement it finds, and will consider what further regulatory action may be required.The Code of Fundraising Practice sets out the standards expected of all charitable fundraising organisations across the UK, requiring their fundraising to be “….open, honest and respectful”. The Code is regulated by the independent Fundraising Regulator, which has said it will consider any case where it appears an organisation has failed to meet these principles. The Fundraising Regulator has assessed the allegations regarding the President’s Club charity dinner. The Fundraising Regulator has written to the charity setting out its regulatory role and seeking further information about the charity dinner and how the charity carries out its fundraising

Brass Bands: Finance

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many brass bands in each English region received funding from Arts Council England in each year since 2010.

Michael Ellis: A list of the eligible applications to the Arts Council in each year since 2010 in the sub-art form “Brass and Silver bands” by region, are outlined in the attached tables. Some activity, for which brass bands play a constituent part, may not be included as the wider activity has not been classified specifically as such. Ineligible applications are not recorded by sub-art form. Since April 2016, Brass bands have also benefited from the Orchestra tax relief.



applications to the Arts Council since 2010.
(PDF Document, 289.12 KB)

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Staff

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has made an assessment of the staffing levels required in his Department in each year until 2022; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: ​The Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) does not have specific predictions for staff numbers by each year until 2022, but puts greater emphasis on ensuring that mechanisms are in place to manage demands on workforce capacity and capability. The department engages in strategic workforce planning to maximise resourcing effectiveness, ensuring that the right people are in the right places, at the right time. DCMS are part of a wider cross-government network sharing best practice in relation to workforce planning issues and priorities such as EU Exit, alongside mechanisms of resourcing such as contingent labour and apprenticeships.

Museums and Galleries: Finance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123805, what estimate he has made of the  level of public funding for museums in England for each year from 2017-18 to 2021-22.

Michael Ellis: It is not possible to make an estimate of the full level of funding for each year across the whole sector given the many sources of public funding, including from central and local government. Any such assessment would also be limited to the current Spending Review period, which runs to 2019/20. The Mendoza Review: an independent review of museums in England did an overall assessment of public funding and captured 11 quantifiable sources over the past decade from 2007-08 to 2016-17. On average this amounted to £844m per year. The Mendoza Review identified further sources of funding that could not be quantified, including: business rates relief; gift aid; European funding; and one-off grants. The Museums and Galleries Tax Relief supporting permanent and temporary exhibitions has come into effect since the Mendoza review was published. Applying to expenditure from April 2017, to be claimed in 2017/18 tax returns, it is estimated to be worth £30m per year to the sector.

Betting

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the amount taken by (a) betting shops and (b) online betting portals in the UK in each of the last five years.

Tracey Crouch: Gambling policy and regulation is devolved to Northern Ireland, and we do not hold figures covering spending on gambling in Northern Ireland. The Gambling Commission is the regulator for Great Britain and collects industry statistics from operators’ regulatory returns which include data on Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) and turnover. These are published on the Commission’s website: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/Statistics-and-research/Statistics/Industry-statistics.aspx. Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) is the amount retained by operators after the payment of winnings but before the deduction of operating costs. The GGY figure provides a more accurate reflection of consumer behaviour than turnover, as turnover alone includes recycled funds. Gambling Commission statistics do not provide specific data on the amount taken in betting shops. The nearest equivalent is data provided for off-course betting, which includes over-the-counter and machine GGY in betting shops. This does not include GGY from pool betting (some of which is attributable to betting shops). GB off-course betting data (April 2012 - Mar 2017):  Betting Data - Off-course combined GGY (£m) Apr 2012 - Mar 2013Apr 2013 - Mar 2014Apr 2014 - Mar 2015Apr 2015 - Mar 2016Apr 2016 - Mar 2017Machines1,547.691,569.141,685.151,747.591,802.61Over the counter1,495.081,437.951,412.421,416.081,386.13Total3,042.773,007.083,097.573,163.673,188.74   From November 2014 (remote data)  Since November 2014 the Gambling Commission has collected data from all gambling operators licensed to provide remote gambling services (online and via telephone) to consumers in Great Britain. This followed implementation of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014. GB only remote data (£m) (derived from consumers located in Great Britain)GGYNov 2014 - Mar 2015 (5 month period)Apr 2015 - Mar 2016Apr 2016-Mar 2017TotalTotalTotalBetting456.441,557.431736.13Betting Exchange52.44151.75170.92Bingo66.98150.89162.36Casino889.792,365.852620.13Pool Betting9.8225.9032.32Total1,485.474,251.824,721.86  Before November 2014 (remote data) Before November 2014, only operators with remote equipment located in Great Britain required a licence from the Gambling Commission. Therefore the Gambling Commission only has data for a small portion of the British-facing remote market before November 2014. Data provided for the period before November 2014 is not directly comparable to data covering the period after this date and does not reflect the total amount spent during this time. General Remote Data (£m) (derived from operators with remote equipment located in Great Britain)GGY2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/14Oct 2013- Sep 2014Betting460.85492.25563.96751.70979.831,192.85Betting Exchange146.91145.9346.0432.5129.8027.03Bingo1.512.192.032.464.327.76Casino22.9512.6920.2342.4927.4924.09Pool Bettingn/an/a77.92103.4593.2295.50Total632.22653.06710.18932.611,134.661,347.23

Mass Media: Regulation

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125607, what the cost to the public purse has been to date of consulting on s40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 and Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry.

Margot James: The costs of consulting on section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 and Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry have all been met from existing departmental budgets.

Children: Gambling

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125605, whether his Department plans to commission research to ascertain the number of problem gamblers aged under 18 and under in the UK.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125605, what funding his Department has allocated to (a) reduce the number of 11-16 year olds who participate in gambling activities and (b) support those aged 11-16 who have been identified as problem gamblers.

Tracey Crouch: Protecting children and the vulnerable from being harmed or exploited by gambling is a core objective of the regulation of gambling in Great Britain, and a priority for the government. Operators offering gambling services to people in Great Britain must have a licence from the Gambling Commission and must have effective policies and procedures designed to prevent underage gambling. The Gambling Commission run an annual survey of gambling behaviour among 11-16 year olds in Great Britain, which gives an estimate of rates of participation in gambling activities and problem gambling. The 2018 survey will include a sample of 17 year olds and is likely to be published later this year. In August 2017 the Gambling Commission published a report using Health Survey data into gambling behaviour in those aged 16 years old and over. The 2017 Young People and Gambling report found that 12% of 11-16 year olds had spent their own money on gambling in the week prior to completing the survey, down from 16% in 2016. Although some forms of gambling are legal for 11-16 year olds, for example, betting between friends or on crane grab machines in Family Entertainment Centres, the law is clear that children are not allowed to gamble in pubs, betting offices or bingo halls. Where there is a failure to prevent underage gambling, the Gambling Commission has a range of powers to act, including regulatory and/or criminal action. The Gambling Commission is funded on a cost-recovery basis by licence fees paid by operators. The majority of dedicated treatment for gambling disorders is administered by the charity GambleAware who commission the National Gambling Helpline and a national network of treatment services, mostly through GamCare. These are available to problem gamblers of any age, including young people. Problem gamblers can also access treatment services in primary and secondary care including specialised mental health services. Local authority commissioned specialist drug and alcohol services may also be able to offer treatment where a service for broader addictions has been specified.

Commercial Broadcasting: Radio

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the deregulation of commercial radio.

Margot James: The commercial radio deregulation consultation closed on 8 May 2017 and the government response was published on 18 December 2017.The next phase is for DCMS to begin the detailed work to develop the new legislative structure and to bring forward legislation prior to analogue licenses coming up for renewal in 2022. Legislation will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows.

Broadband: Universal Service Obligation

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons 10mbps was chosen as the broadband speed for the universal service obligation.

Margot James: 10Mbps is the minimum download speed that Ofcom says is needed to meet the typical needs of an average family. This will enable simultaneous live streaming of television, video calling, emailing and basic web browsing. Consumers on connections of less than 10Mbps tend to use less data, suggesting that internet usage is constrained below this speed. Download speed is not the only quality requirement to be included in the proposed Universal Service Obligation (USO) specification. We have also proposed to include within the specification requirements for upload speed, contention (how many premises are using the network), latency (delays) and data capacity, which can all impact on what a consumer can do online.

Sustainability of the Press Review

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Review of Press Sustainability in the UK will consider the commencement of Part 2 of Leveson Report into the culture, practices and ethics of the press.

Margot James: The Review of Press Sustainability in the UK is forward-looking as opposed to examining past practices, and will be looking at the challenges the press industry faces in monetising its online content and the implications for the sector’s sustainability. The government has consulted on whether Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry is still appropriate, proportionate and in the public interest. No final decision has been made. We hope to publish the government’s response to the consultation in the near future.

Sports: Governing Bodies

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to review the effectiveness of the new Sports Governance guidelines over the next 12 months.

Tracey Crouch: Following a robust assessment process, on 20 December 2017 Sport England and UK Sport made a formal statement on the current levels of compliance with the Code for Sports Governance of the 58 national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport that they fund. UK Sport and Sport England are working with the other organisations that they fund to assess compliance against the Code and are now working to develop and embed an ongoing, risk-based approach for assessing whether organisations continue to be compliant over the longer term. The transparency expectations in the Code (Principle 3) place an onus on the funded organisation and emphasise the importance of providing clear and relevant information to stakeholders regarding the funded organisation’s decision-making and performance. One of the aspects of the Code is that organisations subject to it are expected to publish an Annual Governance Statement which should provide a summary of how the organisation in question is complying with the Code, including any areas that require action or improvement. We have been clear that compliance with the Code for Sports Governance is not a tick box exercise and that the sport and physical activity sector needs to make substantive and enduring changes to the way it approaches governance to secure lasting improvements. The Government has also been clear that organisations must continue to strive to embrace and live the values, cultures and behaviours that are at the heart of the Code, and that any organisations deemed at any stage to be non-compliant with the requirements of the Code are at risk of having their funding removed. We will continue to discuss with the leadership of Sport England and UK Sport in the coming months the effectiveness of the Code and the impact it is having within the sector.

Gambling: Industry

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has had discussions with the Gambling Commission on tackling sexual harassment and sexist practices at gambling industry events; and if he will make a statement.

Tracey Crouch: The Department has had no specific discussions with the Gambling Commission on sexual harassment or sexist practices at gambling industry events. Legislation relating to sexual harassment and equality applies to all industries and events and we would expect any breaches to be dealt with under such legislation.The Gambling Commission has reminded the industry that more diverse organisations, boards and teams make better decisions and play an important role in good governance to make gambling fairer and safer. The Chief Executive’s recent speech at the ICE Totally Gaming conference is published on http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk .

S4C Independent Review

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made on the review of S4C.

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the timetable is for the people undertaking the review of S4C to report back to him.

Margot James: Euryn Ogwen Williams submitted ​the final report​ of the S4C independent review​ to the ​government in December​ 2017​. We will publish ​the review ​and the ​g​overnment's response in due course.

S4C: Finance

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the planned level of funding for S4C from the public purse is for financial year 2018-17.

Margot James: S4C is publicly funded through a combination of licence fee and Exchequer funding. Licence fee funding for S4C is guaranteed at £74.5 million until 2021/22 and Exchequer funding is set until the end of the current spending review period in 2019/20. As with all government funding, we keep S4C funding under review.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Carillion

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125692, for what reason contracts with Carillion did not use project bank accounts.

Andrew Griffiths: The Government Construction Strategy committed government departments to use Project Bank Accounts for their projects unless there are compelling reasons not to do so. A certain amount of contracts with Carillion had used Project Bank Accounts but the complexity of the contracting structure is such that it is not possible for the Official Receiver at this stage in the liquidation process to say why they were not used in relation to all contracts.We continue to work with public sector construction procurers to drive the use of Project Banks Accounts to facilitate faster, more transparent and certain payments in the construction supply chain. This will ease the cash flow through the system and support closer working within the supply chain.

Energy: Billing

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the average spend on energy bills by UK households in each year since 2010.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carbon Capture and Storage

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of launching, running and closing the Carbon Capture and Storage Commercialisation Programme Competition.

Claire Perry: As set out in the National Audit Office report published in January 2017, the Government spent £100 million on the Carbon Capture and Storage Commercialisation Programme Competition. The full report, ‘Carbon Capture and Storage: the second competition for government support’ is available at: https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Carbon-Capture-and-Storage-the-second-competition-for-government-support.pdf

Carillion

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many companies that are based in Scotland and that were affected by the liquidation of Carillion have accessed Government support in relation to (a) tax and (b) banking.

Andrew Griffiths: The nature of Carillion’s business was to sub-contract significant proportions of its work and a significant number of those sub-contractors have sub-contracted further elements. The complexity of the contracting structure is such that it is not possible for the Official Receiver at this stage in the liquidation process to have a complete picture of companies affected. He is continuing to work through Carillion’s systems to identify all contracts.For this reason, we do not yet have an estimate of companies accessing government support. We are carefully monitoring the situation and we have established a Taskforce with industry and unions to actively monitor the impact on SMEs and the supply chain, and to assess the action that can be taken to mitigate these effects. The Taskforce has delivered a range of supportive measures. This includes assistance from HMRC to those experiencing difficulties paying tax, £900m in support from UK lenders, and Government funding to ensure continuity of vital services.

Small Businesses: Advisory Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the trends in the provision and efficacy of business advice by the financial sector to (a) SMEs and  (b) start-up companies since 2008.

Andrew Griffiths: The financial sector provides essential advice, support and guidance to both start-up and growing companies. It is for SMEs to choose the sources of advice best-suited to them. For many businesses this will be their accountant and three accountancy bodies (the ICAEW, ICAS and ACCA) offer a Business Finance Advice scheme through which businesses can receive expert advice on start-ups, finance and business planning.The ICAEW in collaboration with the British Business Bank and a wide range of partners from the finance industry and business community have created the Business Finance Guide, which provides relevant and up-to-date information on business finance options. This is widely publicised through both public and private sector advisers.Once an entrepreneur has identified the type of finance they are seeking, the Better Business Finance service from trade body UK Finance enables them to find a suitable provider and the website Business Banking Insight provides information on quality of service, which is particularly difficult for SMEs to determine. All of these services have been developed since 2008.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the risk of customers unknowingly losing their Warm House Discount when switching from an energy supplier with an obligation to offer this support to another supplier not obliged to offer such support; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: Ofgem is helping consumers make an informed choice when changing energy supplier by introducing the Ofgem confidence code of practice for energy price comparison sites. This code of practice requires accredited sites to alert customers to the possibility that if they move supplier, they could lose support from Government energy schemes such as the Warm Home Discount. Accredited sites are audited by Ofgem and can be found at: www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/domestic-consumers/switching-your-energy-supplier/confidence-code.All suppliers participating in the Warm Home Discount scheme can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/energy-suppliersIn addition, when engaging a consumer during a switch, suppliers are expected to uphold licence conditions’ rules that require all licensees to enable consumers to make informed choices. Relevant licence obligations are contained within the domestic Standards of Conduct (SLC 0), and the informed choices principles (SLC 25).

Iron and Steel

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to respond to the steel sector deal proposal.

Richard Harrington: We will continue to work closely with the sector, the unions, the devolved nations and other partners on a sector deal as we seek to find a long-term viable solution for the steel industry.

Timesharing: Complaints

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent representations he has received on companies involved in timeshare scams; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Griffiths: The Department has received no recent representations on matters related to scams in the timeshare market or services related to the timeshare market. Scams or bogus operators in any sector, including timeshare and related services, should be brought to the attention of the relevant enforcement authorities.

Carillion

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of whether cancellation charges incurred by subcontractors and SMEs after 15 January 2018 working on public contracts secured by Carillion will be paid.

Andrew Griffiths: Goods and services supplied with the Official Receiver’s agreement following the making of the winding up orders against Carillion Plc and its subsidiaries will be paid in full. Any amounts due by the Carillion companies to contractors and suppliers prior to the date of the winding-up orders will be claims in the liquidation and included in the general body of unsecured creditors. Those claims in the liquidation could include incidental costs incurred by subcontractors and others which are a direct consequence of the liquidations.

Energy: Prices

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill, whether he plans to publish quantitative data on the effect of a price cap on (a) levels of investment in the energy sector and (b) costs to customers before a Bill is presented to Parliament, and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy: Prices

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for what reasons the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill does not propose a review of the effect of the energy price cap in 2020, (a) every six months and (b) quarterly; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The draft Bill proposes to require Ofgem to review and report on whether the conditions for effective competition are in place and to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State. This will inform the Secretary of State’s decision on whether the cap should remain in force. The first review and report would be in 2020 and each year, up to 2023, that the price cap remains in place. The first review in 2020 is to allow key reforms of the market, such as the smart meters programme, to be implemented while ensuring protection for dis-engaged consumers from poor value tariffs. In designing the methodology for setting the level of the price cap we would expect that Ofgem would need to consider how to take account of relevant changes in costs such as for wholesale energy.

Bayer: Rothamsted Research

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish in full the strategic framework agreement between Bayer and Rothamsted Research.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Rothamsted Research is an independent organisation and any framework agreement with Bayer would be a commercial matter between both parties.

Furs: Labelling

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to improve the labelling of goods containing real fur.

Andrew Griffiths: The Department ensures that there are robust protections in place for consumers. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) requires information given to consumers to be accurate and not misleading. The Regulations prohibit commercial practices, such as labelling, which contain false or misleading information, or which omits material information that a consumers needs to make an informed decision. In addition the EU regulation on the labelling and marking of textile products (EU Regulation 1007/2011) requires that the presence of non-textile parts of animal origin in textile products, such as leather, beads, pearls and fur, must be clearly labelled in such a way that is not misleading and that the consumer can understand. Products containing such materials – even in small quantities – must be labelled or marked with the phrase “Contains non-textile parts of animal origin” whenever they are made available on the market.

Plastics

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to encourage the use of bioplastics in the production of plastic items for everyday use.

Richard Harrington: We have been working closely with the British Plastics Federation and other major stakeholders to promote the sustainability of the plastics industry and encourage its contribution to the circular economy. In the recent Industrial Strategy White Paper we committed to publishing a new UK Bioeconomy Strategy. This will provide a framework within which government, industry and the research community can support the development of bio-based products and processes, including bioplastics.

Conditions of Employment

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 7 February 2018, Official Report, column 1497, on the Taylor Review, what rights will be included for all workers on day one of commencing employment.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 7 February 2018, on the Taylor Review, whether employers will have an obligation to accept a stable contract request.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 7 February 2018, Official Report, Column 1497, on the Taylor Review, what his Department’s definition is of a stable contract.

Andrew Griffiths: In the Government response to the Taylor Review we set a clear path for action. We now need to consult to get more detail and look at how we implement particular recommendations. As Matthew Taylor reported, improving work is a complex, multi-faceted and long-term challenge. We are setting the direction for employment law for decades to come and that will take time and it needs to be right.

Employment Agencies

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 7 February 2018, Official Report, Column 1503, on the Taylor Review, what plans his Department has to abolish the Swedish Derogation.

Andrew Griffiths: As the Government clearly set out in its response to the Taylor review it is our intention to consult on the extent and scale of the issue to ensure the most appropriate response is adopted.

Maternity Rights

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 7 February 2018, Official Report, Column 1497, on the Taylor Review, what steps his Department is planning to take to raise awareness among expectant mothers of their workplace rights.

Andrew Griffiths: In the Government’s response to the Taylor Review we committed to continue to work with a range of partners including Acas and the Equality and Human Rights Commission to improve advice and guidance on pregnancy and maternity issues so that employers are more fully aware of their obligations and women better understand their rights. Acas produced updated and comprehensive guidance in November 2017. Government will also update and consolidate the pregnancy and maternity discrimination pages on GOV.UK by summer 2018. To inform pregnant women of their rights at an early stage, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is working with the Department for Work and Pensions so that the MAT B1 form (the maternity certificate which enables a pregnant woman to claim Statutory Maternity Pay from her employer) signposts advice and guidance on pregnancy and maternity discrimination. BEIS and the Department for Health and Social Care are also working to signpost advice and guidance through the Start 4 Life campaign.

Minimum Wage: Arrears

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2018 to Question 123622, how many of the 169 employers who were instructed to self-correct further arrears in naming rounds 10-13 owed arrears, including those for which they were named and shamed of more than (a) £25,000, (b) £50,000; (c) £100,000; and (d) £250,000.

Andrew Griffiths: Of the 169 employers who were instructed to self-correct further arrears in naming rounds 10-13:13 employers owed total arrears of between £25,000 and £49,9998 employers owed total arrears of between £50,000 and £99,9995 employers owed total arrears of between £100,000 and £249,9995 employers owed total arrears of more than £250,000.

Consumers: Protection

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to bring forward the consumer green paper.

Andrew Griffiths: We will issue a Consumer Green Paper in due course that will tackle areas where markets are not working for consumers.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timescale is for the completion of the Government's review into local enterprise partnerships.

Andrew Griffiths: Government is leading a review to reflect our ambition to strengthen LEPs. This will enable them to prioritise investment in order to bring a strong business voice to local decision-making to drive sustainable private sector-led growth and job creation. This is testament to our belief that business and civic leaders working together can help business to prosper across the country.The review is ongoing and we are currently taking views on how LEPs can support businesses deliver an effective and vibrant economy. We intend to conclude the review in the coming months.

Energy: Meters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the extension of the deadline for installing SMETS1 meters from July 2018 to September 2018 on (a) the supply chain for installing smart meters, and (b) progress towards the 2020 smart meters roll-out target.

Claire Perry: The SMETS1 end-date was recently extended to 5 October 2018 to allow suppliers to keep installing smart meters as they conduct their final tests on SMETS2 meters. Ensuring smart meter installations continue at pace means more consumers can save energy and money, through accurate bills and real time feedback on energy use, during the transition from the rollout of SMETS1 to SMETS2 meters at scale. The change of the SMETS1 end-date does not impact on progress towards the 2020 deadline.

Energy: Meters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure the maintenance of safety standards for smart meter installations as a result of the Government's incentive schemes for increasing the number of installations of those meters.

Claire Perry: Ensuring the safety of rollout of smart meters is a key priority for the Programme both for consumers and those responsible for installations. The Programme is built upon a strong existing health and safety culture within the energy sector.Energy suppliers are already required to comply with a number of existing regulations and requirements relating to safety, including: the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (1998) and The Meter Asset Managers Code of Practice (MAMCoP) and the Metering Installation Code of Practice (SMICoP).All installers fitting smart meters undergo training to achieve the level of skills and qualifications required. All gas meter installers and installing organisations must be Gas Safe registereThe Government is working closely with the energy industry on these matters, including regular dialogue on safety performance.

Smart Data Communications Company: Fees and Charges

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Data Communication Company charging statement, published on 12 January 2018, for what reasons there is a 30 per cent increase in annual charges per household by 2020-21.

Claire Perry: The roll-out of smart meters and the supporting national communications and data network, provided by the Data Communications Company (DCC), is a major national infrastructure modernisation that will bring savings to consumers, estimated at £5.7 billion over the lifetime of the Programme. It will also assist with the move towards smart grids, creating a more efficient energy system that will benefit consumers and the nation as a whole.DCC costs are a matter for Ofgem as part of their price control regime. All DCC costs related to the year 2020-21 are forecasts only. These will therefore be subject to future price control by Ofgem as part of this regime.

Nuclear Safeguards

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Written Statement of 2 February 2018, HCWS445, on energy policy; if he will publish a list of the items that the £2,275,000 is planned to be spent on.

Richard Harrington: The Contingency Fund advance was sought to enable the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) to establish a new domestic civil nuclear safeguards regime ahead of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and Euratom on 29th March 2019.ONR has already begun some preparatory work to deliver the regime but requires this cash advance to move to its next phase of project implementation which includes financial commitments towards recruitment and asset purchases, to be able to deliver the regime ahead of day 1 of exit.ONR has already begun some preparatory work to deliver the regime but requires this cash advance to move to its next phase of project implementation which includes financial commitments towards recruitment and asset purchases, to be able to deliver the regime ahead of day 1 of exit.ONR has already begun some preparatory work to deliver the regime but requires this cash advance to move to its next phase of project implementation which includes financial commitments towards recruitment and asset purchases, to be able to deliver the regime ahead of day 1 of exit.ONR has already begun some preparatory work to deliver the regime but requires this cash advance to move to its next phase of project implementation which includes financial commitments towards recruitment and asset purchases, to be able to deliver the regime ahead of day 1 of exit.The cash advance is required, in particular, to cover matters including: establishing and running a project team, procuring an IT Information Management System, recruitment and training of inspectors, drafting the regulatory framework and providing technical support to BEIS in its international negotiations relating to nuclear safeguards.

Coal

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support his Department is providing for the (a) reskilling and (b) retraining of employees in the coal sector as result of its policy to phase out unabated coal by 2025.

Claire Perry: The Government is clear that we need to build an economy that delivers good, skilled, well-paid jobs and creates the conditions for competitive, world leading businesses to prosper and grow right across the UK. To foster this, last year we published the Clean Growth Strategy and the Industrial Strategy White Paper.We recognise that the continued transition away from coal generation, which has been underway for some years, will have an impact on jobs and communities. Analysis suggests that the majority of coal plants are likely to close ahead of the intervention in 2025.We expect that the losses in activity associated with the closure of unabated coal generators will be compensated by increased activity in new, clean generation. We want all regions of the UK to benefit from the creation of new jobs in the clean economy. Our new Local Energy Programme will support local areas to develop their capability and capacity to unlock local clean energy and low carbon opportunities.

Energy: Meters

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the spending from the public purse to date on the smart meter roll-out; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The smart meter roll-out is being funded from investment by energy suppliers and network operators.The only expenditure relating to the Smart Metering Implementation Programme that comes from the public purse is the direct cost to Government of delivering the Programme.This represents around 1% of the Programme’s total costs, for which estimates are set out in the latest version of the Government’s cost-benefit analysis of the Programme:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-meter-roll-out-gb-cost-benefit-analysis.

EURATOM: Medical Treatments

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving Euratom on medical treatments provided by the NHS.

Richard Harrington: The Government considers the continuity of supply of medical radioisotopes as well as other medicines to be a high priority matter following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Government has made clear that Euratom imposes no restrictions on the export of medical radioisotopes outside the EU. A cross-Departmental effort has already been underway since the summer of 2017 to coordinate and deliver a unified approach towards ensuring continuity of supply for medical radioisotopes after EU exit.

Average Earnings: Yorkshire and the Humber

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to improve the level of average weekly earnings in Yorkshire and Humber.

Andrew Griffiths: The employment rate in Yorkshire and the Humber has grown by 4.1 percentage points since March 2010 to 73%. Our ambitious Industrial Strategy will build on this by enabling the UK to work more productively and boost the earning power of people, businesses, places and the nation as a whole. The Government is backing the Industrial Strategy in Yorkshire and the Humber by investing £1.3bn in local growth funding to create jobs, improve skill levels, and help raise living standards. In addition we agreed a significant programme of Enterprise Zones, which are already attracting investment and jobs across the area.

Energy: Prices

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2018 to Question 124845, on Energy: Prices, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of energy price caps on (a) consumers (b) employment and (c) investment in (i) Canada, (ii) the US, (iii) Spain and (iv) New Zealand; and if his Department will publish that assessment.

Claire Perry: We have made assessments on other countries regarding their energy policy. In those countries where there were, or had been, price interventions in the energy sector markets were either not previously liberalised, or had only recently been liberalised. This is very different to the situation in Great Britain, and so no useful comparisons can be drawn on the effect on employment and investment in those countries.

Energy: Prices

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill on employment in energy projects in the counties and regions; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill is clear that Ofgem must have regard to the need to ensure that holders of supply licences who operate efficiently are able to finance activities authorised by the licence. It would be for the independent regulator, Ofgem, to make its assessment of efficient operations.

Energy: Prices

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of implementation of proposals in the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill on a (a) a rise and (b) fall in wholesale energy costs; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: In designing the method for setting the level of the price cap we would expect that Ofgem would need to consider how to take account of relevant changes in wholesale energy prices, whilst maintaining incentives for switching and enabling effective competition.

Self-employed: North West

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the number of self-employed people who earn below the national living wage in (a) the North West and (b) Liverpool Walton constituency.

Andrew Griffiths: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has not made an estimate of the number of self-employed people earning below the National Living Wage. The legal entitlement to receive the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage does not apply to the self-employed.

Automation

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the automation of jobs on (a) women, (b) BAME people, (c) disabled people and (d) people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Andrew Griffiths: Through our Industrial Strategy, we are exploring how to utilise technological change to improve participation and progression in the labour market, for people from under-represented groups. This includes those with BAME backgrounds, people with disabilities and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Embedding AI across the UK will create thousands of good quality jobs and drive economic growth. A recent study found digital technologies including AI created a net total of 80,000 new jobs annually across a population similar to the UK[1]. Building on the recommendations of the Royal Society and British Academy review, we are creating the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, dedicated to informing decisions on stewardship for the uses and impacts of new data technologies. [1] Mckinsey (2017), ‘Shaping the future of work in Europe’s 9 digital front-runner countries’ https://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/europe/shaping-the-future-of-work-in-eu-ropes-nine-digital-front-runner-countries

Companies House: Recruitment

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2018 to Question 123021, what information his Department holds on the number of staff who will be recruited to Companies House in 2018-19; and what plans he has to increase recruitment to that organisation after the next 12 months.

Andrew Griffiths: Companies House ensures it has the appropriate amount of resources to effectively manage the register, including undertaking the required level of enforcement of the register of People of Significant Control. Staffing levels for 2018/19 have yet to be finalised but these will be made available in its Business Plan which will be published before the next financial year.

Companies: Ownership

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to introduce automated verification systems in Companies House to check the accuracy of the register of beneficial ownership for companies; and how much it costs to maintain the public register each year with regards to staff, IT and any associated overheads.

Andrew Griffiths: There are no current plans to introduce automated verification of beneficial ownership information. However, Companies House is undertaking a number of activities to improve the quality of information relating to beneficial ownership, the People with Significant Control (PSC) data, on the register, including: 1. contacting companies where they believe the company has misunderstood the requirements, to ensure that the records are corrected and that they comply with their legal requirements;2. pursuing companies that have not provided PSC information in their confirmation statement or that have not provided a statement of additional matters;3. following up with companies and PSCs where they have issued notices to their PSC (asking the PSCs to provide them with information), or restrictions (where a PSC has failed to provide information), to ensure they update the information on their company records;4. seeking compliance from companies where there has been a complaint about missing or incorrect PSC information. The cost of maintaining the entire public register in 2016/17 was £56.6m. Staff costs were £28.5m and non-staff administration costs were £28.1m. Further information can be found in the Companies House Annual Report and Accounts for 2016/17.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Domestic Violence

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what records his Department holds by (a) region and (b) constituency on the number of people who have experienced domestic abuse in each of the last three years.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Department does not hold information on the number of people who have experienced domestic abuse in each of the last three years by region and constituency.However, we have commissioned an audit of domestic abuse services across England which will tell us, for the first time, exactly what every local authority in the country is commissioning for victims of domestic abuse. The audit will report in spring 2018 and will inform our review of domestic abuse services, which is to be completed by summer 2018.

Supported Housing: Finance

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of  22 January 2018 to Question 123225, how the Government plans to fund extra stays for people whose stays in short-term supported housing exceed two years.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: As I set out in the response to my Hon Friend to Question UIN 123225 on 22 January 2018, our proposals are not linked to an individual’s length of stay. Schemes meeting the short-term support housing definition will be funded, not the individual residents.Where an individual requires an extended stay, which may be the case if their needs are more complex, the funding the scheme has received will not be affected.

Supported Housing

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January to Question 123225, on Supported Housing, on what criteria will supported housing services be classified as either  short-term or long-term.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Our proposed definition of short-term supported housing is set out in paragraph 53 of the policy statement on Funding Supported Housing, published on 31 October 2017 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-for-supported-housing). It will be for local authorities to decide whether a scheme meets the definition of short-term supported housing, and is therefore eligible to be funded through the local grant fund.We continue to work with the sector on proposals for long-term supported housing.

Social Rented Housing: Consultation Papers

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish the social housing green paper.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: I refer the Hon Member to my response to Question UIN 125886 on 5 February 2018.

Domestic Violence: Victim Support Schemes

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the terms of reference will be for his Department's  review of the commissioning and funding of domestic abuse services.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: My Department has made a public commitment to undertake a thorough review of funding for domestic abuse services, including refuge, so that we have the best possible evidence on which to make decisions about future, sustainable funding for these vital services.To inform our review we have commissioned an independent, external audit of local authority commissioned domestic abuse services, which will shape the final terms of reference for the review.The review will explore all options for future delivery of domestic abuse services in England, and we are committed to working closely with sector partners, drawing on their data, expertise and knowledge, as we undertake our review.

Domestic Violence: Victim Support Schemes

Alex Norris: To ask Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) victims of domestic abuse and (b) support services will be consulted in his Department's  review of the commissioning and funding of domestic abuse services.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We are working closely with the domestic abuse sector on both our review of domestic abuse services, including support and the audit which will inform it, drawing on their data, expertise and knowledge. We want to understand victims’ experiences and will be working with the domestic abuse sector to ensure these are reflected in our review.

Refuges: Domestic Violence

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 January 2018 to Question HL4272, when the £20 million of funding for refuges and other accommodation for women fleeing domestic abuse for 2018-2020 will be released for local authorities and specialist services to access.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We will be making the £20 million fund we secured at Spending Review 2015 available as early as possible in the 2018/19 financial year for domestic abuse services, including refuges.This new fund will be open to all local areas across England to bid for a share.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on applications to lift Housing Revenue Account borrowing caps; and what the timetable will be for the application process.

Dominic Raab: At Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that we will raise the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap by a total of up to £1 billion in areas of high affordability pressure for local authorities who are ready to start building new homes. Local authorities will be able to bid for increases in their caps from 2019-20, up to a total of £1 billion by the end of 2021/22. We will set out more details shortly.

Carillion

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what financial assistance he plans to offer to local authorities which are incurring costs as a result of having to take over the running of services as a result of Carillion going into liquidation; and if he will make a statement.

Rishi Sunak: The Government and local councils’ top priority following the announcement of Carillion’s liquidation is to keep public services running. We are working with the Official Receiver to achieve this objective whilst obtaining value for money.Local authorities will continue to be responsible for funding the services they are responsible for delivering locally. Any local authority that has significant concerns about its financial sustainability as a result of the collapse should approach either the Local Government Association or the Department.

Refuges

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that refuge services currently in receipt of funding from his Department do not close at the end of the 2017-18 financial year.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Local Authorities are responsible for making local spending decisions. In our Priorities for Domestic Abuse Services, published in 2016, we acknowledged the importance of a strategic approach evidenced by an assessment of local need.We were clear in the prospectus for our £20 million fund that bids from local authorities should create sustainable and long term approaches to supporting victims to ensure that each project in receipt of funding would be sustainable when the funding ended.To help meet this challenge, on 7 February we offered projects already funded through the £20 million fund additional support through the allocation of £1.1 million top up funding. We will make the remaining £20 million we secured at Spending Review 2015 available as early as possible in the 2018/19 financial year for domestic abuse services, including refuges.This new fund will be open to all local areas across England to bid for a share.

Sleeping Rough

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date the Ministerial Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Taskforce was established; and on how many occasions it has met since that date.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government has committed to halving rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminating it by 2027. In order to achieve this ambitious target the Chancellor, at Autumn Budget 2017, announced the establishment of the Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Taskforce. Arrangements for the inaugural meeting are currently being finalised.

Housing: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Approved Document B, whether paragraph 12.6 of that document sets a different standard for cladding combustibility than paragraph 12.7.

Dominic Raab: No. Paragraphs 12.5 to 12.9 of Approved Document B give guidance on external wall construction. This guidance must be read in full and in the context of meeting requirement B4(1) of the Building Regulations 2010, which says that the external walls of the building shall adequately resist the spread of fire over the walls and from one building to another, having regard to the height, use and position of the building.

Housing: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will update Approved Document B to make clear that cladding must be of limited combustibility.

Dominic Raab: We are working with industry experts to complete work to clarify the approved documents on fire safety and this will include the guidance on external wall construction. This will then be the subject of a full public consultation.The current guidance already makes it clear that materials of limited combustibility should be used or the proposed wall construction should adequately resist the spread of fire in accordance with British Standard 8414. This is why the Government commissioned a series of BS 8414 tests showing which combinations of materials could present a risk to public safety.

Building Regulations: Disability

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the Government has not yet responded to the ninth report of Session 2016-17 of the Women and Equalities Committee, Building for Equality: disability and the built environment, HC 631, published on 25 April 2017.

Dominic Raab: The Government intends to publish its response shortly. The report of the Woman and Equalities Committee raised a number of important issues which have required careful consideration across Government.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the use of aluminium composite materials with a polyethylene core is suitable for cladding on high-rise tower blocks under Approved Document B.

Dominic Raab: The Government’s view is that aluminium composite material cladding with a polyethylene core would not be in accordance with the Building Regulations 2010, Schedule 1 requirement B4(1), or the requirements in Building Regulations guidance, set out in paragraph 12.7 of Volume 2 of Approved Document B, that insulation products and filler material used in external wall construction should be of limited combustibility for buildings over 18 metres in height.

Local Government Finance

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the section 114 notice brought in by Northamptonshire County Council, what assessment he has made of whether other local authorities face similar financial risks in (a) the 2017-18 financial year and (b) 2018-19.

Rishi Sunak: Local authorities are independent of central government, and circumstances within an individual authority can change. Every statutory finance officer within each council must make their own determination whether to act to restrain unaffordable spending if they deem the situation requires it.However, the Department constantly reviews the challenges facing the sector and individual authorities. In our discussions with councils during the consultation on the provisional finance settlement no authorities have raised concerns of this kind.

Local Government Finance

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Local Government Association on whether any other local authorities have had similar problems to those which led Northamptonshire to issue a section 114 notice.

Rishi Sunak: Ministers and officials at the Department have regular and ongoing contact with the Local Government Association about issues facing the sector as a whole, as well as challenges facing individual authorities.

Leasehold: Service Charges

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that freeholders have equivalent rights to leaseholders to challenge unfair service charges.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for leaseholders and freeholders.On 21 December 2017, the Government set out a package of measures to tackle abuses and unfair practices in the leasehold market.This includes bringing forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows to ensure that freeholders who pay charges for the maintenance of communal areas and facilities on a private or mixed use estate, can access equivalent rights as leaseholders to challenge the reasonableness of service charges.

Opportunity and Integration Review

Mrs Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will meet representatives of (a) the Scout Association and (b) other uniformed youth groups to discuss how his Department can support such organisations in taking forward the recommendations of the December 2016 Casey review into opportunity and integration.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: My officials met representatives from the Scout Association, Girlguiding and the Youth United Foundation, which brings together 11 leading uniformed youth groups, on 10 January 2018, to discuss social mixing and building integrated communities.Officials look forward to continuing discussions with the Youth United network on the Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper, which I will publish in due course.

Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many affordable housing units have been completed by type of unit and region in each year since 2009-10.

Dominic Raab: The numbers of additional affordable homes by type of unit provided by local authority area in England since 2009-10 are published in live tables 1006C - 1008C, which are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supplyFigures are not available at regional level.

Local Government Finance: Dorset

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his oral contribution of 7 February 2018, Official Report, column 1566, on Local Government Finance, if he will encourage local authorities in Dorset to budget for 2018-19 on the basis that they will not be subject to negative revenue support grant in 2019-20; and if he will make a statement.

Rishi Sunak: The local government finance settlement for 2018-19, approved by the House on 7 February, allocated additional resources to local authorities to eliminate so-called ‘negative Revenue Support Grant’ (RSG) in that year. I acknowledge concerns around negative RSG in 2019 to 2020 and we will be looking at fair and affordable options that will address the problem. I plan to formally consult on proposals in the Spring, ahead of next year’s settlement

Ministry of Defence

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Government’s policy is on the use of drones overseas outside of conflict zones.

Mark Lancaster: As the Government has stated previously there is no policy or guidance on the use of force outside of an armed conflict. Rather it has a policy to protect the UK and its citizens against both armed attacks and imminent threats of armed attack. In implementing this policy it may draw on a wide range of options including, in extremis, the use of lethal force. As such a decision to use lethal force outside of an armed conflict would be conducted on a case by case basis but always in accordance with applicable UK and International Law.

Armed Forces: Labour Turnover

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) regular armed forces personnel and (b) reservists have (i) joined and (ii) left 77th Brigade in the last two years.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the manning target for 77th Brigade is; and whether there is currently a shortfall.

Mark Lancaster: Following its establishment in April 2015, 77th Brigade is planned to reach full operating capability in December 2019. The establishment and current strength of 77th Brigade as at 1 October 2017 is shown below: 77th Brigade EstablishmentStrengthRegular Army Personnel (Including Full Time Reserve Service and Non Regular Permanent Staff) Navy & RAF203190Army Future Reserve 2020, Navy & RAF Reserve271150 It is not possible to include inflow and outflow data for 77th Brigade as it has only been formed for two years. Notes/Caveats:Future Reserves 2020 includes volunteer reserves who are mobilised, high readiness and volunteer reserve personnel serving on Additional Duty or Full Time Reserve Service contracts. Sponsored Reserves who provide a more cost effective solution than volunteer reserve are also included in the Army Reserve FR20. Non Regular Permanent Staff, Expeditionary Forces Institute and University Officer Cadets and Regular Reservists are excluded.Figures have been rounded to 10 to limit disclosure and ensure confidentiality; numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.

Army: Deployment

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel from the 77th Brigade have been deployed on operations in the last 12 months.

Mark Lancaster: Between 1 February 2017 and 1 February 2018, 29 personnel from 77th Brigade have been forward deployed on operations. Additionally, the majority of staff at 77th Brigade are employed to provide operational support from the United Kingdom.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has a published legal framework and guidance on its use of lethal force using armed drones (a) in recognised conflict zones and (b) outside conflict zones.

Mark Lancaster: The use of military force, regardless of whether it is delivered by manned or unmanned aircraft or any other military equipment, is governed by applicable UK and International Law. The UK Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict sets out UK practice and is available at the following internet address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-383-the-joint-service-manual-of-the-law-of-armed-conflict-2004-edition. As the Government has stated previously there is no separate policy or legal guidance on the use of force outside of an armed conflict. Rather it has a policy to protect the UK and its citizens against both armed attacks and imminent threats of armed attack. In implementing this policy it may draw on a wide range of options including, in extremis, the use of lethal force. As such a decision to use lethal force outside of an armed conflict would be conducted on a case by case basis.

Afghanistan: Interpreters

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to review the ex-gratia redundancy scheme for Afghan interpreters.

Mark Lancaster: The National Security Council-agreed Ex-Gratia Redundancy Scheme and the Intimidation Policy for Afghan local staff were announced on 4 June 2013 by the then Secretary of State for Defence. They were developed to express the UK's debt of gratitude to those staff who had supported its effort through the operation, to provide support to any who might face intimidation as a result of their work for the UK, and to recognise the then Afghan President's concern to retain the country's best and brightest citizens in order to help build a more stable and secure Afghanistan. By the end of December 2017, all local staff had been made redundant and some 400 had been relocated to the UK with their families with up to 50 more expected to follow. Others benefited from finance and training packages and from support to deal with intimidation concerns. The arrangements are kept under review in the light of developments in Afghanistan, including independent assurance of the application of the Intimidation Policy.

Reserve Forces

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the continuation of Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadrons in universities.

Mark Lancaster: The Army has 15 University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) and two University Officer Training Regiments (UOTR) covering a number of affiliated universities across the UK, delivering military, leadership and personal training development opportunities. We are committed to maintaining a nationwide footprint of UOTCs and UOTRs. Under the Army's Basic Training Transformation Programme, the current UOTC structure is being examined. The study is ongoing with no decision imminent.The RAF has 15 University Air Squadrons (UAS) which incorporate a number of affiliated universities across a wide catchment area in the UK in geographically essential locations. UAS are a vital part of developing and recruiting talented individuals into the RAF. There are no plans to change this.

Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of acquiring the capabilities currently being examined by the US Army's Squad-Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) programme.

Guto Bebb: We are actively engaged in the assessment of requirements and solutions for unmanned systems for the resupply of frontline troops. While we are not currently considering the acquisition of the US Army's Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) programme, other work is ongoing to develop similar capabilities. The most promising of these will be evaluated during the British Army's Exercise Autonomous Warrior (Land) later this year.

Defence Equipment: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Figure 9 of the Defence Equipment Plan 2017, what the identified savings were from each of the programmes which formed part of the Equipment Support Projects Review that contributed to (a) savings delivered and (b) total forecast savings.

Guto Bebb: The information requested is commercially sensitive, therefore, we are unable to release it at this time.

Submarines

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Figure 9 of the Defence Equipment Plan 2017, how the £677 million of financial benefits delivered under the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme were achieved.

Guto Bebb: The financial benefits so far delivered have been achieved through over 200 individual initiatives that range from bulk buying efficiencies to innovative approaches to commercial and process management activities.

Defence Equipment: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence,with reference to Figure 9 of the Defence Equipment Plan 2017, what estimate he has made of the (a) gross savings and (b) net savings within the identified Total Forecast Savings in that plan.

Guto Bebb: The Total Forecast Savings shown in Figure 9 of the Equipment Plan 2017 summary report are composed of efficiencies from Equipment Support projects, the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme (SEPP) and the Complex Weapons Pipeline (CWP). Savings delivered by the CWP have been reported as 'gross savings' and 'net savings' due to the two baseline cost estimates against which these efficiencies are assessed (see paragraph 24c of the Equipment Plan 2017 summary report). This structure is unique to the CWP efficiencies and therefore not applicable to either the Equipment Support or SEPP efficiencies.

Weapons: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to figure 9 of The Defence Equipment Plan 2017, which weapons systems in the Complex Weapons pipeline were included in the programme to develop families of weapons utilising the principles of commonality, modularity and re-use that he estimates will deliver £1.2bn savings over 10 years from 2010.

Guto Bebb: The weapons systems included in the Complex Weapons pipeline that will deliver an estimated £1.2 billion of savings over 10 years from 2010 are: Brimstone 2; SPEAR Capability 3; ASRAAM Block 6; Sea Venom; Sea Ceptor; and Land Ceptor.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2018 to Question 123536 on Ministry of Defence Procurement, if he will publish the name of each supplier.

Guto Bebb: The Ministry of Defence currently holds contracts with the following Government strategic suppliers.AccentureAtosBabcock International Group PLCBAE Systems PLCBritish Telecommunications PLCCapita PLCCarillion PLCDHLEngieFujitsu LtdGroupe CGIDXC/HPInternational Business Machines CorporationInterserve PLCISSMicrosoft CorporationOracle CorporationSerco Group PLCSodexoSopra SteriaVodafone LimitedWS Atkins PLC

Ministry of Defence: Buildings

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the size of his Department's estate was in square metres of floor space for each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As of 1 December 2017, the total recorded built assets held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) was 29,098,652 square metres in the UK and 3,384,571 square metres overseas. The net internal useable area (floor space) of built assets is not held.The Department is currently reviewing the data it holds regarding the Defence estate to assure the information reflects the current position.The MOD's Information Management System (IMS) does not hold information on built assets held by the MOD for each of the last five years.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the monthly civilian staff cost to his Department was for (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff, including (i) contingency and (ii) consultancy staff in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The information on non-payroll staff is published and can be found on the gov.uk website at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/workforce-management-information-modInformation for May to December 2017 will be published by the Cabinet Office.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-payroll staff were employed by his Department in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The information on non-payroll staff is published and can be found on the gov.uk website at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/workforce-management-information-modInformation for May to December 2017 will be published by the Cabinet Office.

Army: Recruitment

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on which websites Army recruitment advertisements have been placed in each of the last three years.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) total and (b) disaggregated spend was on each website where army recruitment advertisements have been placed in each of the last three years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The following table shows the total spend for web advertising and the disaggregated spend for each type of advert over the last three years.  Recruiting Year 2015-16Recruiting Year 2016-17Recruiting Year 2017-18 (as of 30 Sep 2017)Job Boards£790,000£650,000£420,000Display£970,000£1,360,000£940,000Search£470,000£360,000£200,000Paid Social£190,000£780,000£450,000Total£2,420,000£3,170,000£2,000,000 Definitions for each type of advert:Job Boards - Job advertising sites, which are used to promote Army jobs.Display – Banner adverts that appear on websites.Search – The cost to return an advert on Google search listings, which will appear higher up search listings.Paid Social – Content paid to be placed on Social Media sites Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Advertisements are placed through the Cabinet Office Media Buying Agency. They use algorithms to target audiences, rather than advertising on specific websites, meaning adverts may appear on a number of online platforms that carry advertising. As of 21 September 2017, there were 1,173 approved websites listed on the latest Cabinet Office Government Whitelist.For presentational purposes, figures have been rounded to the nearest £10,000 to improve the clarity of output and convey an appropriate level of precision.

Army: Recruitment

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total spend was on army recruitment advertising via (a) Facebook, (b) Snapchat and (c) Twitter in each of the last three years.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent to boost posts on the Army Jobs Facebook page in each of the last three years; and what the target audience was for each of those posts.

Mark Lancaster: The total spend for Army recruitment advertising over the past three years on Facebook and Twitter is shown in the table below. There was no spend on Snapchat. Financial Year 2015-16Financial Year 2016-172017-18 (Up to 31 December 2017)Facebook£844,000£1,076,000£481,000Twitter£161,000£218,000£41,000 The figures above include £2,000 spent boosting Facebook posts in 2016-17 and £19,400 in 2017-18.The target audience for boosted Facebook posts are those aged between 16 and 24 for the Regular Army and between 16 and 35 for the Reserves that have expressed an interest in a career with the British Army. For presentational purposes, figures have been rounded to the nearest £1,000 to improve the clarity of output and convey an appropriate level of precision. Figures are a single Service estimate.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to introduce a new pension scheme for members of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence keeps the remunerative and non-remunerative offer for members of the Armed Forces under review to ensure it is fit for purpose in attracting and retaining the skills we need to support Defence. There are currently no plans to introduce a new pension scheme for existing members of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the rules of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme relating to widows who remarried prior to 1 April 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Government recognises the unique commitment that Service families make to their country and remains sympathetic to the circumstances of this group of widows. However, there are no plans to review the rules relating to widows, on the Armed Forces Pension Scheme that remarried prior to 1 April 2015.

Scotland Office

Cairnryan Port

Mr Alister Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution to the economy of (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) Scotland of the Port of Cairnryan.

David Mundell: Dumfries and Galloway are one of five local authority partners who have jointly submitted a proposition for the Borderlands Growth Deal. The Borderlands proposition has been developed to tackle the economic challenges across the area, need for population growth, and improved productivity all within the context of the emerging economy. Whilst Dumfries and Galloway’s economy was worth nearly £3 billion in 2016, 2.2% of Scottish total, the economic output per person was lower than the average across Scotland (£24,876), at £19,826. It is positive that Dumfries and Galloway outperforms the national average in terms of labour market outcomes. Employment rate in Dumfries and Galloway stood at 76.1% in the year to end September 2017 (73.9% in Scotland overall). Unemployment stood at 3.3% (4.3% in Scotland overall). The Borderlands Growth Deal proposition also calls for investment in transport infrastructure to create a platform for inclusive growth, this includes the upgrading of the A75 as part of the “South West Scotland and Northern Ireland Strategic Growth Corridor” and a proposal to duel the A75 from Dumfries to the M74. This would further support traffic going to the Port of Cairnryan, which provides crucial ferry services to Belfast.

Shipbuilding: Scotland

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has made an assessment of the economic contributions  of Ministry of Defence contracts to the shipbuilding industry in Scotland.

David Mundell: The £3.7 billion Ministry of Defence contract for the first three Type 26 frigates, to be followed by five more, and the £635 million investment in the Offshore Patrol Vessel programme have guaranteed the shipbuilding industry on the Clyde work for 20 years and safeguarded 1,700 shipbuilding jobs in Scotland. Additionally, the second of the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers is currently being fitted out in Rosyth, and the National Shipbuilding Strategy has set out our commitment to a competition to design and build Type 31e frigates here in the UK.

British Transport Police: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the future viability of the Scottish component of the British Transport Police pension fund when it is transferred to the Scottish Government.

David Mundell: The UK Government is committed to working with the Scottish Government, the British Transport Police Authority and the Scottish Police Authority, to ensure that the pensions of officers and staff transferring to Police Scotland are maintained. Scottish Government Ministers have provided assurances to the Scottish Parliament that British Transport Police officers and staff in Scotland will transfer to Police Scotland with their current terms and conditions of service, including pensions.

British Transport Police: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the effect of the merger of the Scottish component of the British Transport Police into Police Scotland on cross border policing; and what estimate he has made of the cost of cross border activities as a result of that merger.

David Mundell: The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government as well as the two police forces and police authorities through a Joint Programme Board, to ensure that effective arrangements are in place for cross-border railway policing once responsibilities have been transferred, so that we continue to have a railway policing service which protects the safety of passengers. The direct costs of the transfer are being borne by the British Transport Police Authority which is wholly funded by the railway operators. The current estimated cost of the transfer to the Authority, which includes the costs of the British Transport Police, is £1.17m. Post-merger it is expected that the aggregate costs for railway operators of charges for policing from the British Transport Police and Police Scotland will be similar to current costs. Future policing charges in Scotland will be a matter for the Scottish Police Authority.

British Transport Police: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the effect on cross border policing of the proposed merger of British Transport Police (Scotland) with Police Scotland.

David Mundell: The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government as well as the two police forces and police authorities through a Joint Programme Board. A central, ongoing focus of that Board is to deliver a seamless and orderly transfer of responsibilities and to ensure that the overall level of policing, including policing across the border, remains fully effective so that we continue to have a railway policing service which protects the safety of passengers.

Department for International Trade

Trade

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Public Accounts Committee session on 20 November 2017, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the accuracy of the evidence from HMRC that it had no evidence to suggest there would be increased trade flows after the UK leaves the EU.

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the session of the Public Accounts Committee on 20 November 2017, what disscussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the accuracy of the evidence given by HMRC that it was not expecting any shift in risk profile on goods coming into the UK from the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Greg Hands: “The Secretary of State has regular meetings with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the course of carrying out his duties.The IMF has predicted that 90% of future growth will come from outside the EU in the next 10-15 years. The UK needs to take advantage of this growth and position itself to ensure maximum prosperity for its people.”

Trade Remedies Authority

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to proceedings in Committee on the Trade Bill of 23 January 2018, what assessment he has made of evidential basis for the statement by James Ashton Bell on the consultation on the creation of a Trade Remedies Authority that the optics were all wrong.

Greg Hands: The Department has undertaken a comprehensive series of engagement activities as we develop our future trade policy. The White Paper published in October is just one part of an ongoing programme of engagement. Our wider engagement work – including roundtables, bi-laterals and technical meetings – began in July 2016.

Chile: Overseas Trade

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government has received formal notification from the Government of Chile on changes in the terms of trade between the UK and Chile after the UK leaves the EU.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government has received representations from the Government of Chile on concessions for its agricultural sector in any new agreement with that country after the UK leaves the EU.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government has received formal notification from the Government of Chile on changes in the terms of trade between the UK and Chile after the UK leaves the EU.

Greg Hands: As a priority, we are currently working with partner countries to seek continuity of trading arrangements as we leave the EU. We are having technical discussions with partner countries, including Chile, on this. As my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union set out on 26 January 2018, it is the aim of this Government that existing international agreements we are party to should continue to apply during the implementation period, including trade agreements the EU has struck while the UK was a member.

UK Trade With EU

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2018 to Question 125208, on UK Trade With EU, whether any counterparties have made proposals for commitments that could result in a material difference from those in the agreement that is being replicated.

Greg Hands: As a priority, we are currently working with the EU and partner countries to ensure continuity of the application of EU trade agreements with non-EU countries during the Implementation Period.Alongside these discussions, we are working with partner countries to ensure continuity of trading arrangements beyond the Implementation Period. Partner countries are aware that this is a technical exercise to replicate the effects of current trade agreements and ensure continuity. They recognise that continuity is very much in our mutual interest and the interests of all of our businesses.

UK Trade With EU

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2018 to Question 125208, how many (a) staff and (b) contracted staff were involved in (i) replicating agreements and (ii) negotiating with counterparties and what experience of negotiating each of those staff had for each agreement listed on the European Commission’s website.

Greg Hands: The task of ensuring continuity of EU trade agreements as we leave the EU is not area of work that has been consigned to one team or a single department. Rather, it is a cross -government project with the Department of International Trade’s 450 -strong Trade Policy Group (TPG) working closely with other government departments to ensure continuity of these agreements.TPG has staff with international negotiating experience drawn from working in a wide range of international organisations, including EU institutions. Over 115 TPG staff have worked on, or represented, UK interests in bilateral and multilateral free trade arrangements, such as TTIP and CETA, and at WTO Ministerial Conferences.

Higher Education: Trade Missions

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2018 to Question 125302, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that its work with the higher education sector on Trade Missions reflects the diversity of the UK’s university sector.

Graham Stuart: Higher education opportunities overseas are likely to be relevant to a broad range of UK higher education institutions and we thus seek to ensure that the widest grouping of providers is invited to participate. We promote trade missions via a diverse network of higher education representative groups, as well as to the institutions themselves, in both public and private sectors.

Honduras: Electronic Surveillance

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the secretary of state for international trade whether he has made an assessment as to whether the telecommunications interception equipment licensed to Honduras on 17 August 2017 and 19 December  2016 has been used by the authorities in their recent surveillance-led crack down against dissidents following November's disputed election; and whether he plans to revoke licences for strategic goods to that country.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the secretary of state for International Trade, whether he sought assurances from the Government of Honduras that the telecommunications interception equipment licensed to Honduras would not be used in internal repression.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if his Department will publish the name of the company that it licensed to supply two batches of surveillance and telecommunications interception equipment to Honduras in 2017.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department took to comply with criterion two of the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria before issuing arms export licences for exports to Honduras in 2017.

Graham Stuart: All export licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available at the time, including reports from NGOs and our overseas network. We will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the Consolidated Criteria. In particular, we assessed both licences against Criterion 2(a) – whether there is a clear risk that the goods might be used for internal repression.Each application must be supported by an undertaking from the end-user which sets out the intended purpose of the goods. This undertaking is considered as part of the overall assessment process but we do not rely solely on assurances given by the recipient state in deciding whether or not to grant a licence. As part of our assessment under Criterion 2 we consider all relevant information, including the behaviour of the end user with regard to respect for human rights. In this case, as part of the assessment, the British Embassy in Honduras was consulted thoroughly on the end user and stated end use.The first licence granted in December 2016 was for a temporary export for demonstration purposes; a condition of the licence was that the goods were returned to the UK within 12 months, this licence has now expired. Our records show that the licence granted in August 2017 has not been used and currently no goods have yet been shipped. I therefore do not consider that the goods licensed for export could have been used against protestors.No licences have been revoked or suspended for Honduras. We are keeping the situation under careful review.I am withholding the name of the exporter because information on export licence applicants is confidential.

Women and Equalities

Sexual Harassment

Sarah Jones: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the President's Club charity dinner in January 2018, whether she plans to review the law on sexual harassment in the workplace.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is clear that unwanted conduct in the workplace that violates a person’s dignity or creates a hostile or degrading atmosphere is unacceptable. Legal protection from such harassment in the workplace exists through the Equality Act 2010, with criminal offences in this area covered in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Sexual Offences Act 2003. We believe this legislation provides adequate protection for both men and women in the working environment; however, we will continue to keep the operation of the legislation under review, to ensure that it works as intended. We also recognise that unscrupulous employers may try to intimidate vulnerable employees into apparently signing away their rights in non-disclosure agreements. In fact the law already makes such agreements unenforceable. The Equality Act 2010 says that discriminatory contract terms, and terms that restrict a person’s rights not to be discriminated against, can’t be relied on by the employer.

Department for Transport

Electric Vehicles: Wales

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the criteria for Government funding to ensure that one electric charging point at every 20 miles on the strategic road network are planned to apply in Wales.

Jesse Norman: Roads funding in the UK is a devolved matter. Government funding for electric charging points on the strategic road network, through the Road Investment Strategy, applies in England only.

Electric Vehicles

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential Barnett consequentials for the devolved administrations of projects to install electric charging points at every 20 miles on the strategic road network in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland.

Jesse Norman: Highways England’s target in the Road Investment Strategy (2015 – 2020), to ensure there is a chargepoint every 20 miles along 95% of the strategic road network, only applies to England. The Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive receive Barnett consequentials on this funding in the usual way.

Electric Vehicles

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many electric charging points there are per 100 miles of strategic road network in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of electric vehicle chargepoints per 100 miles of the strategic road network in England and Wales.

Electric Vehicles

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of electric charging points per 20 miles of (a) motorway and (b) A road in Wales.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of electric vehicle chargepoints per 20 miles of motorway and A roads in Wales.

Electric Vehicles

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding each local authority in Wales has applied for through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme for electric car charging points.

Jesse Norman: To date, no Local Authorities in Wales have applied to the On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme.

Railway Stations: Repairs and Maintenance

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the oral contribution of 5 February 2018, Official Report, column 1248 on railway station accessibility, when he plans to make a decision on the funding to be allocated to station accessibility improvement works in Control Period 6.

Joseph Johnson: As set out in the Statement of Funds Available, we expect around £47.9bn to be spent on the railway between 2019 and 2024, with up to £34.7bn to be provided directly via Government grant. This will include funding to improve accessibility across the network. We are now working with Network Rail to provide further confidence in the volumes and costs involved in this portfolio and we will publish the details of how the funding will be allocated once Network Rail’s detailed business plans have been scrutinised by the independent regulator, the Office of Rail and Road later this year.

Great Western Railway Line: Trains

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions bimodal trains have broken down on the Great Western mainline.

Joseph Johnson: There is no accepted rail industry definition of ‘broken down’, and train-related incidents may be for a variety of reasons and durations together with a variety of journey implications. We are therefore unable to state how many bimodal trains have ‘broken down’.

Cycling: Safety

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve road safety for cyclists.

Jesse Norman: Last year the Government announced a cycle safety review consisting of two phases. The first part of the review considers the case for creating a new offence equivalent to causing death or serious injury by careless or dangerous driving, to help protect both cyclists and pedestrians. This is expected to report early this year. The second phase will be a wider consultation on road safety issues relating to cycling. The Department has undertaken informal consultations with a range of stakeholders, and intends to issue a formal consultation document shortly.

Railways: Disability

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve rail travel for disabled passengers.

Joseph Johnson: We are committed to improving the accessibility of the rail network. Currently 72% of train fleets’ operating passenger services meet modern accessibility standards, up from 39% at the start of 2011. The remaining vehicles will be either upgraded or replaced by 1 January 2020. Further funding for the Access for All programme will be made available from 2019-24 and we are introducing new accessibility commitments through franchising. Refurbishment and renewal work at stations must also conform to modern accessibility standards.

Community Transport

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to encourage community transport providers across the UK to continue to offer (a) grass-roots voluntary car schemes, (b) day trips for local elderly or vulnerable people, (c) other local transport services that would not otherwise be available and (d) local road passenger transport services; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The Department has provided over 300 local charities and community groups across England with over 400 minibuses to use for the benefit of their passengers, through the £25 million Community Minibus Fund. In addition, during in the 2016 to 2017 financial year, the Department spent almost £3.5 million on supporting the community transport sector through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG).

Bus Services: Sheffield

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to provide financial support for Sheffield City region to fund non-statutory concessions for bus travel.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: It is not Government policy to fund non-statutory concessions for bus travel anywhere in England, including in the Sheffield City Region. However, individual local transport authorities have powers to fund additional concession schemes for bus travel over and above the statutory scheme.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, under which of the grounds set out in Regulation 32 (Use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication) his Department justified the extension of Virgin Rail’s West Coast contract by direct award rather than through a competitive tendering process.

Joseph Johnson: The Direct Award was made under article 5(6) of Regulation 1370/2007 (Direct Award for transport by rail without a call for competition), which is directly applicable.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department received legal advice in relation to Regulation 32 (Use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication) to enable a direct award of Virgin Rail’s contract extension for the West Coast Main Line rather than awarding it through a competitive tendering process; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: The Secretary of State satisfied himself that the award of a Direct Award in these circumstances complied with legal requirements for such a procurement.

Midland Main Railway Line: Disability

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that all rolling stock on Midland Mainline is compliant with disability discrimination legislation by 2020.

Joseph Johnson: It is the responsibility of the operator of the East Midlands franchise to ensure the trains which are currently operated on the Midland Mainline meet modern accessibility standards by 2020. Any trains being introduced on to the line must also be built or modified to be compliant with those standards.

Midland Main Railway Line: Franchises

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the announcement of the new franchise for the Midland Mainline.

Joseph Johnson: The announcement of the winning bidder for the next East Midlands franchise is due in Spring 2019, with the new franchise due to start in August 2019.

Great Western Railway Line

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment was made of passenger satisfaction, reliability, capacity, and the number of commuter services which serve Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, and Caldicot train stations before the most recent decision to extend the Great Western Franchise was made.

Joseph Johnson: When the Secretary of State announced the twelve month extension of the existing Great Western franchise agreement from March 2019 to March 2020 on 29 November 2017, he also announced a further directly awarded two-year franchise to 2022 and a full public consultation on the future of the Great Western franchise. The rationale for these decisions is set out in the consultation document. The franchise to 2022 will be based on a new franchise agreement informed by the feed-back received from the public consultation.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on how many local authorities have signed confidentially agreements with HS2 Ltd.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: In order to undertake its tasks, HS2 Ltd requires certain information from local authorities (and, on occasions, such local authorities require information from HS2 Ltd). It is typical protocol for local authorities that they will not release information unless a confidentiality agreement is in place with the proposed recipient of that information. HS2 Ltd’s records show that 20 confidentiality agreements have been entered into with local authorities.

Carillion

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the terms and conditions of the contracts held between his Department and Carillion have been changed following their transfer to new companies.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department interacts with Carillion plc primarily through its Arm’s Length Bodies rather than centrally. Each of these organisations has developed its own contingency plans in light of Carillion’s insolvency, which range depending on the particular contract concerned. The terms and conditions of these contracts are commercially sensitive.

Carillion: Insolvency

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of staff hours in his Department which have used on assessing and dealing with the effects of Carillion entering liquidation and the transfer of contracts formerly held by that company.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: As far as can be determined, there has not been a formal estimate of the number of staff hours spend by staff in the Department for Transport on assessing and dealing with the effects of Carillion entering liquidation.

Bridges: Tolls

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to bring forward legislative proposals to repeal charges on toll bridges established under 19th Century Acts of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: These Toll bridges are privately owned and operated. The operation and management of these privately owned tolled crossings are a matter for the respective individual companies and Government has no plans to repeal the legislation in respect of these charges.

Railways: North West

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the publication of the results of the 2016 public enquiry into the Hope Valley line improvements.

Jesse Norman: The decision to provide Network Rail Infrastructure Limited with the legal powers to construct, operate and maintain new passing facilities and associated railway infrastructure on the Hope Valley route between Bamford and Hathersage and at Dore was issued on 13 February 2018. A copy of the decision letter and the Inspector’s report, following the public Inquiry, can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/twa-inspector-reports-and-decision-letters.

Railways: North West

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for Network Rail's design work on the improvements to the Hope Valley line be concluded.

Joseph Johnson: On 13 February 2018, the Secretary of State announced his decision to provide Network Rail Infrastructure Limited with the legal powers to construct, operate and maintain new passing facilities and associated railway infrastructure on the Hope Valley route between Bamford and Hathersage and at Dore. Network Rail have completed the single option design for the railway infrastructure scheme proposed in the Hope Valley and, following last week’s decision, the timetable for further work on this scheme will be announced in due course.

Midland Main Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for new rolling stock to be introduced on the Midland Mainline.

Joseph Johnson: It will be for the bidders to determine their fleet strategy to meet the requirements of the Invitation to Tender when it is issued.

Midland Main Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for hybrid trains to begin running on the Midland Mainline.

Joseph Johnson: It will be for the bidders to determine their fleet strategy to meet the requirements of the Invitation to Tender when it is issued. However, these bi-mode trains will improve journeys sooner, without the need for wires and masts on the whole route, and with less disruptive engineering works for passengers. Customers will also benefit from the wider upgrade to the Midland Mainline, which includes line speed improvements to reduce journey times.

Railways: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the usage of the Severn Tunnel Junction will be considered when the (a) Cross Country and (b) Great Western franchise agreements are drawn up.

Joseph Johnson: The department will consider the usage of the Severn Tunnel Junction when specifying the requirements for the next Great Western Direct Award and Cross Country franchise. A public consultation for the Great Western franchise is already under way, inviting views on future priorities and this closes on 21 February 2018. We will be consulting on the future Cross Country franchise in due course.

London Bridge Station: Repairs and Maintenance

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of the Thameslink project at London Bridge; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money from the public purse has been spent on the Thameslink project to improve the infrastructure to all rail lines that run (a) into and (b) out of London Bridge Station; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: The estimated total cost for Thameslink Programme London Bridge Station infrastructure works including civils works and associated Railway Systems is £1.6 billion. Of this total cost, the cost of the railway systems work, including track and signalling at London Bridge station and on its approaches, was £508 million at January 2018. The overall package has delivered major capacity enhancements, and, with 24 Thameslink trains per hour being able to run at peak times through the central London core from 2019, the station concourse now has two-thirds more space for passengers and it will have the ability to cope with 96 million passengers per year, up from the 54 million today.

London Bridge Station: Repairs and Maintenance

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential improvement the performance of Southeastern rail services on completion of the Thameslink project at London Bridge Station; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: The Thameslink Programme investment around London Bridge station includes new infrastructure, track and signalling equipment to untangle the tracks. This will provide more capacity through London Bridge station and make train services more resilient. The new timetable being implemented from May 2018 will take advantage of this investment and will benefit passengers across the south east including on the Thameslink, Southern and Southeastern networks. Network Rail is currently undertaking a review of performance for the new South Eastern franchise.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Mexico: Elections

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of preparations for free and fair elections in Mexico in July 2018.

Sir Alan Duncan: Our Embassy in Mexico City is closely following preparations for the elections in July. Independent election observation missions at the previous presidential elections in 2006 and 2012 found the electoral system to be robust and trustworthy. We expect the next elections to be similarly well run.

Companies: Ownership

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the contribution of 12 December 2017 by Lord Ahmed of Wimbledon, HL Deb col 1519, on the Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Bill what constitutes a similarly effective mechanism for beneficial ownership registers.

Sir Alan Duncan: Electronic search platforms are a technical solution designed to achieve precisely the same result as a closed central register in terms of gaining access to and the sharing of beneficial ownership information for the purposes of combating economic crime.

South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential for success of the latest cease-fire in South Sudan.

Harriett Baldwin: ​The UK strongly condemns the violations of the Agreement to a Cessation of Hostilities committed by all parties, including the Government, since it was signed on 21 December. We are working with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to ensure that the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism is able to access areas where potential violations of the Agreement to a Cessations of Hostilities may have taken place, and that they report on these in a timely manner.

Yemen: Overseas Trade

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to ensure that the Red Sea supply route to Yemen is protected from hostile attacks.

Alistair Burt: Conflict is making humanitarian and commercial access to all of Yemen extremely difficult. We urge all parties to the conflict to take all reasonable steps to allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian and commercial supplies. This is critical to ensuring that the Yemeni people get the supplies and assistance they so desperately need. We call upon the Houthis to adhere to UN Security Council Resolutions, and to desist from launching attacks against shipping in the Bab al-Mandab strait.

Hezbollah: Weapons

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of expansion of Hezbollah's weapons arsenal; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports that Hizballah continues to amass an arsenal of weapons in Lebanon. We condemn the threat this poses to regional stability and the direct contravention of UN Security Council Resolutionss 1559 and 1701.

Lebanon: Politics and Government

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the root causes of political destabilisation in Lebanon.

Alistair Burt: Lebanon faces a range of political challenges. We look forward to the holding of elections on 6 May 2018. This is an important opportunity for the Lebanese people to express their views, which will in turn be conducive to addressing the pressing concerns of Lebanon's citizens, and to enhanced cooperation with the international community.The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Lebanon for shared stability, security and prosperity.

Hezbollah: Iran

Craig Tracey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of financial support provided to Hezbollah in Lebanon by Iran.

Alistair Burt: We are deeply concerned by reports of Iranian financial support to Hizballah in Lebanon. We continue to work with our partners to challenge Hizballah's regional activities.

Hezbollah: Terrorism

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of terrorist activity supported by and carried out by Hezbollah.

Alistair Burt: We are deeply concerned by Hizballah's involvement in terrorist activity in the Middle East and beyond. We condemn the threat this poses to regional security and stability. We also condemn Hizballah's military support for Asad's brutality in Syria.

Developing Countries: Waste Management

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to include improving waste management systems in developing countries and reducing the amount of plastic entering the marine environment from those countries on the agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in April.

Alistair Burt: We are working closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, member states, and Commonwealth partner organisations to develop an ambitious agenda for the summit. The Prime Minister has made clear that she intends to raise the issue of plastic pollution entering the world's oceans with other Heads of Government in London.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the UN on the effectiveness of the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen.

Alistair Burt: The UK fully supports the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM). We continue to work with our regional and international partners to provide support to speed up the clearance process for ships and improve commercial access. British Officials will hold discussions with UNVIM in Djibouti and Amman in the coming weeks to discuss ways of strengthening the mechanism. We also aim to increase UNVIM's capacity through the deployment of additional inspectors to UNVIM HQ in Djibouti and to ports around the region. This could increase UNVIM inspection capacity fivefold.

Sri Lanka: Military Attaches

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will withdraw the diplomatic papers of Sri Lanka's Defence Attache to the UK and expel him following reports of that attache making death threats to protesters.

Mark Field: ​We remain deeply concerned by this high profile incident. We welcome the Government of Sri Lanka's assurances that they are carrying out a full investigation. It would not be appropriate to provide any further comment until such investigations have concluded.

South Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the statement from the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator to the UN Security Council, published on 7 December 2017, on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, what representations he has made to the Government of South Sudan on allowing unhindered access for humanitarian organisations.

Harriett Baldwin: Alongside our international partners, the UK continues to engage South Sudan's leaders at the highest level to make clear that physical and bureaucratic obstacles to the delivery of lifesaving aid must cease immediately.Despite the challenges, the UK continues to deliver lifesaving support to hundreds of thousands of people in South Sudan. Last year the UK reached over 500,000 people with food assistance, provided safe drinking water for 300,000 people and delivered over 5 million health consultations for children under 5.

Libya: Freezing of Assets

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has held with his counterparts in the EU on tensuring the security and retention of frozen Libyan assets.

Alistair Burt: As a member of the United Nations Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, we regularly discuss the implementation of the UN Libya sanctions regime, including with EU members of the Committee. We have regular discussions on the EU autonomous regime with EU member states in the relevant working groups and the listings are reviewed on a regular basis. We have also done so in routine working group meetings with EU partners concerning the implementation of the EU Regulations and restrictive measures on Libya. By its Resolution 2362 of 29 June 2017, the UN Security Council reaffirmed its intention to ensure that assets frozen by the UN in 2011 shall at a later stage be made available to and for the benefit of the Libyan people.

Diplomatic Service: Labour Turnover

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Ambassadors and High Commissioners have left posts with his Department and subsequently been re-appointed as an official or consultant since 2010.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold information on the numbers of Ambassadors and High Commissioners that have left posts and subsequently been re-appointed as an official or consultant. This information cannot be provided without exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold.

Gaza: Fuels

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on fuel supplies for back-up generators in Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports that Israel has resumed supplying additional electricity to Gaza following an official request by the Palestinian Authority. This has increased supply from an average of four hours a day to six hours per day. We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and continue to monitor it closely. The UK will continue to urge all the parties to take the necessary practical steps to improve conditions in Gaza, including restoring the availability of electricity as a matter of urgency.

West Bank: Demolition

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Israeli Government on the demolition of EU-funded structures in the village of Abu Nuwar in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: ​Officials from our Embassy to Tel Aviv most recently discussed the issue of demolitions of Palestinian property with the Israeli authorities on 19 February. On 6 February, the EU released a local statement expressing strong concerns about demolition by the Israeli authorities of parts of the school of the Bedouin community of Abu Nuwar. Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; call into question Israel’s commitment to a viable two-state solution; and, in all but the most exceptional cases, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law.

Trinidad and Tobago: British Nationals Abroad

Neil Coyle: What support his Department is providing to the families of British citizens murdered in Trinidad and Tobago and to the investigating authorities in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: Our dedicated consular team in London supports families bereaved through murder committed overseas. They work with officials across our network to provide information about the local police and legal system and guidance on repatriation. They also provide updates on investigations and trials. We cannot interfere in judicial process or police investigation of another country, just as we would not accept such interference in the UK.

Turkey: Human Rights

Vicky Ford: What recent discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on the arrests of human rights defenders in that country.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign Secretary most recently raised this issue with Foreign Minister Cavuşoğlu on 1 February. Both he and I regularly discuss human rights concerns with our Turkish counterparts. We urge Turkey to respect its international human rights obligations and to uphold the rule of law.

Human Rights

Ged Killen: What steps he is taking to challenge human rights abuses in other countries.

Mark Field: Championing and defending human rights is central to this government’s foreign policy. FCO ministers regularly raise human rights issues at senior level with foreign governments. We also defend human rights in multilateral fora, and deliver projects funded by the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy.

Freedom of Religion

Jim Shannon: What steps he is taking to provide training on freedom of religion or belief for officials of his Department.

Mark Field: The FCO provides religious literacy training and organises ad-hoc seminars on specific freedom of religion or belief related themes. These are advertised widely and are open to all staff. Our Diplomatic Academy provides in depth training on human rights, including freedom of religion or belief.

China: Diplomatic Relations

Luke Graham: What recent assessment he has made of the strength of the UK’s diplomatic relations with China.

Mark Field: As my Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister said during her recent visit to China, in this ‘Golden Era’ of UK-China relations, our relationship is broad and deep, and delivering real benefits for both countries. We are global partners, working together to strengthen further our trade links and tackle global challenges.

Libya: Peace Negotiations

Royston Smith: What recent assessment his Department has made of the prospects for peace in Libya.

Boris Johnson: We assess that there is not yet sufficient support amongst UN Security Council members for a referral of the situation in Burma to the ICC. I am deeply concerned by the human rights violations committed against the Rohingya. I saw for myself the devastation in northern Rakhine during my visit on 11 February. I met Aung San Suu Kyi and reiterated UK calls for alleged abuses to be investigated and those responsible to be held to account.

Department for International Development

South Asia: Migrant Workers

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she plans to publish proposals for the second phase of the Work in Freedom programme to prevent trafficking and forced labour among women migrant workers from South Asia.

Alistair Burt: Ending modern slavery is a top priority for the UK Government – in the UK and around the world. The Work in Freedom programme is helping to tackle forced labour and trafficking of migrant women, across South Asia and the Middle East. It has helped 380,000 women so far.The second phase of the programme is due to begin in April, and the business case, results framework and other information will be published at that time. The programme will build on the work currently underway in the first phase, and the documents relating to this are available online at: https://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/projects/GB-1-203857.

South Sudan: Famine

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the statement of 7 December 2017 by the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, what steps she is taking to prepare for famine in South Sudan in March this year.

Harriett Baldwin: The South Sudanese people are experiencing food insecurity at unprecedented levels, and there is a real risk of another famine in parts of the country this year.The UK’s Humanitarian Assistance and Resilience in South Sudan programme is getting lifesaving food, water, and medicine to hundreds of thousands of people in South Sudan. Our programmes are designed to respond flexibly to the most urgent needs, and we regularly monitor and review them to make sure we target the most vulnerable. With the international community and our implementing partners, the UK helped to alleviate the famine declared in parts of South Sudan in February 2017.This year, UK Aid is working with partners like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Humanitarian Air Service to get food and nutrition supplies to key locations across the country – by truck, helicopter or barge. So far this year, the WFP has dispatched almost 20,000 metric tonnes of food to vulnerable communities, as well as prepositioning supplies to meet future anticipated needs.

South Sudan: Third Sector

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support civil society capacity-building programmes in South Sudan.

Harriett Baldwin: Civil Society Organisations have an important role to play in South Sudan by holding the Government and other actors to account. The UK continues to support civil society peace-building initiatives in South Sudan, including by providing funding to the South Sudanese Council of Churches (SSCC). The SSCC, which comprises the seven main churches, have developed an Action Plan for Peace. This includes reconciliation and mediation efforts, and support for inclusive dialogue within and across communities. UK funding is enabling the SSCC to lead mediation and reconciliation efforts between national level leaders who have the power to stop the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.More widely, the UK is working to empower non-armed actors in South Sudan to participate effectively in the High Level Revitalisation Forum (HLRF), including work with local peacebuilding organisations. We welcomed the involvement of representatives from South Sudanese civil society in the first round of the HLRF in December, and encourage their continued inclusion as the process progresses.

Developing Countries: Minority Groups

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make representations to her international counterparts, including the UNHCR, for regular reporting on the effectiveness of funding for religious minorities.

Alistair Burt: The UK’s humanitarian aid operates under international humanitarian principles and is provided based on need. Our partners carry out vulnerability assessments to ensure aid effectively reaches those most in need, including those from religious minorities, as it is recognised that religion may be a factor in causing vulnerability. We regularly review and discuss programme effectiveness with our international partners. The UK has an ambitious agenda for reform of the humanitarian system and is pressing to ensure that every pound of taxpayers’ money is spent as effectively as is possible to do so.

Developing Countries: Religious Freedom

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what criteria her Department uses to assess the (a) due diligence, (b) commitment to UK Partnership Principles and (c) promotion of freedom of religion or belief when it allocates funding to (i) governments and (ii)  organisations overseas.

Harriett Baldwin: In determining UKAid funding to governments DFID assesses their commitment to each of four Partnership Principles. One of the Principles is commitment to human rights, which includes freedom of religion or belief. Evidence of lack of commitment to the Principles would influence choices on the level and the manner of aid provision, for example by providing aid through civil society organisations rather than through government bodies. DFID contractual and grant arrangements used for organisations other than governments include specific clauses to prevent any discrimination against protected characteristics, including religion or belief.

Nigeria and Syria: Water

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to support (a) Nigeria and (b) Syria in response to the water crises in those countries.

Alistair Burt: In Nigeria, UK aid has provided around 7 million people with a safe and reliable water supply between 2010-2017. In Syria, UK aid has funded the UN and NGOs to support water, hygiene and sanitation needs throughout Syria, and will continue to do so. Between January and September 2017, 550,000 people gained access to clean drinking water due to UK support.

Developing Countries: Female Genital Mutilation

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the cost to the public purse is for initiatives aimed at preventing female genital mutilation overseas since 2016; and which countries have received that funding.

Alistair Burt: The UK is proud to be a world-leader in our support for the Africa-led movement to end FGM. Our spending data is available on DFID’s Development Tracker. Our direct FGM programmes have a budget of more than £50m between 2013-2020. This includes our £35 million flagship programme working across 16 countries (Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, The Gambia and Uganda), significant complementary bilateral investments in Sudan and Somalia and support to grassroots organisations working across Africa and the Middle East

Turkey: Kurds

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to provide medical support for people affected by recent military action between Turkish Government forces and Kurds.

Alistair Burt: UK-funded partners have been delivering humanitarian assistance in Afrin including health and protection services. Activities inside Afrin are currently suspended due to the recent military action. Partners are pre-positioning supplies to help meet the needs of those fleeing the area. We call on all parties to facilitate access for life-saving humanitarian aid, and to allow freedom of movement for those caught up in the violence, in accordance with international humanitarian law. The UK will continue to engage with the Government of Turkey on issues relating to the current operation. The Prime Minister spoke to President Erdogan on 26 January where she urged Turkey to avoid any escalation in violence and to protect civilians, while recognising its legitimate interest in the security of its borders.

South Sudan: Young People

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to hold discussions with the South Sudan Leaders Forum to encourage better representation of young people in South Sudan.

Harriett Baldwin: UK officials engage regularly with the South Sudan Young Leaders Forum. We continue to consider how the UK can best lend support to the youth of South Sudan, including the Forum, to contribute to long term peace and stability.More widely, we have consistently called for the inclusion of a broad range of civil society actors in the High Level Revitalisation Forum (HLRF), including representatives of South Sudanese youth groups. We welcomed the involvement of South Sudanese civil society groups in the first round of the HLRF in December, and encourage their continued inclusion as the process progresses.

Human Trafficking and Sexual Offences

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of global steps to tackle human trafficking and sex slavery.

Alistair Burt: Tackling modern slavery, including sexual exploitation, is a cross-government priority. The Government is working to secure better international engagement and coordination to drive action on modern slavery globally as, with 40 million people in slavery worldwide, the response does not yet meet the scale of the challenge, Our Prime Minister has taken a leading role in pushing for increased international action. In September 2017, she launched a Call to Action at the UN General Assembly to encourage countries to drive action to tackle modern slavery. 42 countries have now endorsed this important political statement of intent, and we will continue to push for more country endorsements and ensure that it delivers action on the ground. The Prime Minister also committed to double ODA spend on modern slavery to £150 million. Recently the Secretary of State for International Development announced £40 million of this funding, which will help over 500,000 vulnerable men, women and children.

Developing Countries: Waste Management

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will commit to increasing the proportion of overseas development aid spent on waste management to at least 3 per cent in line with the recommendations of Global Waste Management Outlook.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of increasing the proportion of overseas development aid spent on waste management to at least three percent on (a) public health, (b) environmental pollution, (c) reducing the amount of plastic entering the marine environment and (d) meeting her Department’s Leave No One Behind agenda.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2018 to Question 120567, what steps she plans to take to increase, and extend the impact of, the support her Department is providing for improving waste collection services and ending open dumping and burning in developing countries.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK is already providing international development support to multilateral funds that are tackling the problem of plastic pollution and waste management, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Global Environment Facility. DFID also carries out broader work on waste management and urban planning in developing countries – this work helps support a reduction in the amount of plastics entering the marine environment. In line with the 25 Year Environment Plan, the Government is considering what more can be done to tackle waste effectively, including plastics waste. The issue will also be on the agenda for this year’s Commonwealth Summit being held here in the UK. There are no plans to set a spending target on waste management, but the International Development Secretary is engaging other Government Departments, to seek out new and innovative ways for DFID to work with them to solve critical global challenges, including plastic pollution and environmental protection.

Jordan: Migrant Camps

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to improve the humanitarian situation for (a) refugees and (b) displaced persons in the informal al-Rukban camp at the Jordan-Syria border.

Alistair Burt: The UK currently funds UNICEF to provide clean water and clinic-based health and nutrition services, for the population at Rukban. The UK also made funding available to UNICEF to support logistical costs for a distribution of aid in January. The UK continues to monitor the situation at Rukban very closely – most recently when officials visited the Rukban clinic on 4 February – as well as advocating for a viable solution to be found that will enable regular aid deliveries to take place in line with International Humanitarian Law.

Unitaid

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid spending has allocated from the public purse to Unitaid in each of the last five years; and what checks her Department makes to ensure that none of the UK's contributions go from Unitaid to the Clinton Foundation.

Alistair Burt: Since its creation in 2006, Unitaid has been a major player in scaling up access to life-saving drugs and diagnostics for those most in need. It has shown us that small, catalytic investments can dramatically change the global health landscape, allowing us to treat more women and children with less money and better products. The United Kingdom is proud to be the second largest donor to Unitaid, with an investment of £188 million since 2013, including: £53 million in 2013, £40 million in 2014 and £88 million in 2017. Unitaid does not provide any funding to the Clinton Foundation. Unitaid is also highly transparent and accountable organisation that regularly provides detailed financial and programmatic updates through the Audit and Finance Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee and Executive Board. The United Kingdom sits on all of Unitaid’s governance committees and is Vice-Chair of the Board.

Yemen: International Assistance

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure access for humanitarian aid to Yemen.

Alistair Burt: As the Prime Minister set out in her November visit to Riyadh, the UK continues to call for complete and unhindered access for commercial and humanitarian imports of food, fuel and medical supplies particularly through the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef. Following the Secretary of State’s visit to Riyadh in December we were pleased to see the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lift all access restrictions. To encourage commercial imports which provide over 80% of Yemen’s food and fuel, we are providing £1.3 million to the UN’s Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) this financial year (2017/18) and have provided UK experts on the ground in Djibouti to increase the number of UNVIM inspections of commercial vessels entering Yemen. The UK will continue to play a leading role in the humanitarian response and efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. Our funding of £205 million to Yemen for 2017/18 makes us the third-largest humanitarian donor to Yemen overall, and the second-largest to the UN Humanitarian Appeal.

Developing Countries: Slavery

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to help tackle modern slavery in developing countries.

Alistair Burt: Tackling modern slavery is a cross-government priority, and DFID is committed to driving change through the UN and other multilateral channels. At last year’s UN General Assembly, our Prime Minister launched the “Call to Action to end Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking”, which has been endorsed by 43 countries from all regions of the world. We will continue to push for more country endorsements and ensure that it delivers action on the ground.We are also expanding our work in developing countries to tackle the root causes of slavery and support victims, whilst addressing the factors that enable the criminality of modern slavery to thrive. As part of the Prime Minister’s commitment to double ODA spend on modern slavery to £150 million, DFID is developing £40 million of new programming which will help over 500,000 vulnerable men, women and children.

Colombia and Lesotho: Taxation

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of Exchequer on the (a) process of negotiation and (b) ratifying the UK’s tax treaties with (i) Lesotho and (ii) Columbia.

Harriett Baldwin: The Secretary of State for International Development has not had any discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on tax treaty negotiations between the UK and Lesotho and Colombia. HMRC is the lead department for the negotiation of the UK’s tax treaties, reporting to HM Treasury Ministers. HMRC seeks views from a range of interested parties, including DFID, and then takes a judgement about which countries to seek to engage with. DFID supports this approach which led to recent successful negotiations with Colombia and Lesotho.

Department for International Development: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123544, on Department for International Development: Procurement, what the centrally-managed contract is; and what the value of that contract is.

Harriett Baldwin: The contractual data requested cannot be released as doing so would compromise the security of the supplier concerned.

Department for International Development: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123544, on Department for International Development: Procurement, what the cross-government contracts are; and with which other Departments those contracts are shared.

Harriett Baldwin: The information is not held in the form requested and can only be collated at disproportionate cost.

Haiti: Overseas Aid

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department has offered to Haiti in the last five years.

Alistair Burt: Data for all DFID’s spend is available in the Statistics for International Development publication at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-2017 The amount DFID has spent in Haiti is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/659763/Table4c.ods Information on 2017 spend will be published next year.

Gaza and West Bank: Health Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking improve health provision for communities in (a) the West Bank and (b) Gaza.

Alistair Burt: UK financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority helps to pay the salaries of vetted health public servants in the West Bank, providing up to 3,700 immunisations for children and around 185,000 medical consultations annually. The UK is a long-term supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides basic services, including basic healthcare, to over 800,000 Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and 1.3 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza. In addition, the UK is supporting approximately 1 million Gazans by providing clean water, rehabilitating sanitation facilities and promoting hygiene standards to stop the spread of disease through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Syria: Politics and Government

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government taking to help alleviate the humanitarian situation in Afrin.

Alistair Burt: UK-funded partners have been delivering humanitarian assistance in Afrin including health and protection services. Activities inside Afrin are currently suspended due to the recent military action. Partners are pre-positioning supplies to help meet the needs of those fleeing the area. We call on all parties to facilitate access for life-saving humanitarian aid, and to allow freedom of movement for those caught up in the violence, in accordance with international humanitarian law. The UK will continue to engage with the Government of Turkey on issues relating to the current operation. The Prime Minister spoke to President Erdogan on 26 January where she urged Turkey to avoid any escalation in violence and to protect civilians, while recognising its legitimate interest in the security of its borders.

Bridge International Academies

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has to provide funding (a) directly and (b) indirectly to (i) Bridge International Academies and (ii) its parent or subsidiary companies.

Penny Mordaunt: Through CDC, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, DFID has invested a total of $8.8m in Bridge International Academies (BIA) for its global operations in Africa and India. An investment of $1.6m was made in 2016. The remainder was invested in 2013 and 2014. These are long term capital investments made to fund expansion of BIA’s business in Africa. In addition, a DFID £3.45m grant, awarded competitively, was also provided to open 23 Bridge academies in Lagos, Nigeria. This grant is now completed. There are no current plans to provide additional funding.

Bridge International Academies

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the funds allocated to Bridge International Academies and its parent or subsidiary companies in each of the last three years.

Penny Mordaunt: Through CDC, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, DFID has invested a total of $8.8m in Bridge International Academies (BIA) for its global operations in Africa and India. An investment of $1.6m was made in 2016. The remainder was invested in 2013 and 2014. These are long term investments and returnable to the UK taxpayer. In addition, a DFID £3.45m grant, awarded competitively, was also provided to open 23 Bridge academies in Lagos, Nigeria from 2014 through to 2016. This grant is now completed.

Department for Education

Schools: Knives

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of knife offences taking place on school premises.

Nick Gibb: No one should ever feel the need to take weapons into schools. Doing so is likely to be a criminal offence. Schools have a statutory power to search for and confiscate prohibited items such as knives and weapons. The Department has produced advice for schools which makes it clear that school staff can search pupils or their possessions, without consent, where there are reasonable grounds to do so. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/searching-screening-and-confiscation. If a pupil refuses to be searched, the school may bar them from the premises. The Department is working with the Home Office to consider how we can reinforce the message that it is unacceptable to bring knives or weapons into schools. As part of this work, the Department is considering how it can further strengthen the advice and support it provides to schools.

Schools: Governing Bodies

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has any plans to increase funding for the Inspiring Governance programme.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department contracts with the charity Education and Employers Taskforce to deliver Inspiring Governance, a service to support recruitment in school governance by matching those who wish to be governors to school vacancies. The contract runs to the end of March 2020, and is worth £1 million per annum. There are no plans to increase funding to this programme.

Further Education: Standards

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason further education colleges are included in the list for underperforming schools.

Anne Milton: The department publishes educational performance data for schools and colleges in England based on the performance of students at the end of key stage 4 (age 16) and for 16 to18 year olds, regardless of the institution they attend. Data can be found here: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/. Further education colleges with 14 to 16 year old provision are included in the secondary performance data, as secondary accountability measures apply to these colleges. Just 17 of the 5,516 institutions with pupils completing key stage 4 in 2017 were further education colleges. The secondary floor standard, which is the minimum standard for pupil attainment and/or progress that the government expects schools to meet, also applies to further education colleges with 14 to 16 year old provision, as they are state-funded mainstream education providers for this age group. Floor standards do not apply to special schools, independent schools, pupil referral units, alternative provision or hospital schools.

Supply Teachers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing (a) a code of conduct for teacher supply agencues, (b) licenses for teacher supply agencies and (c) routine inspection of supply teaching.

Nick Gibb: The Department is working with the Crown Commercial Service to develop a commercial agreement for supply teachers, which is expected to be available for schools to use from September 2018. The contract will require suppliers to accept new terms and conditions developed in line with best practice recruitment in the education sector. It is for schools to ensure they are satisfied with the quality of the supply teachers they use. Ofsted inspects the quality of education, including teaching, pupil attainment and assessment in a school.

Children in Care: Social Workers

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans there are for Social Work England to include residential child care social workers in its responsibilities for the  registration of Social Workers.

Nadhim Zahawi: Social Work England will be responsible for registering all individuals who are qualified to practise as social workers in England. This will include social workers working in residential child care settings.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what is the timeframe for the introduction of statutory Personal, Social and Health Economic education.

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding has been allocated from the public purse for the roll-out of statutory relationships and sex education.

Nick Gibb: The Children and Social Work Act 2017 places a duty on the Secretary of State for Education to make Relationships Education mandatory in primary schools and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) mandatory in secondary schools, through regulations. The Act also provides powers for the Secretary of State to make Personal Social Health and Economics (PSHE) education, or elements therein, mandatory in all schools in the future, subject to careful consideration. The Department is conducting a thorough engagement process on the scope and design of Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and PSHE, with a broad spectrum of stakeholders. The outcome of this ongoing engagement exercise and online call for evidence will support consideration of the future status of PSHE and the development of regulations and statutory guidance for the new subjects. Supporting schools to deliver high quality Relationship Education and RSE is a priority of the Department and as part of this engagement process, work is underway to identify what schools might need to deliver high quality subject content.

Office for Students

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consultations the Government had with stakeholders prior to the announcement of the National Office for Students.

Mr Sam Gyimah: A full public consultation on creating an Office for Students took place following the publication of proposals set out in the green paper ‘Fulfilling our potential – Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice’ (November 2015): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/474227/BIS-15-623-fulfilling-our-potential-teaching-excellence-social-mobility-and-student-choice.pdf. In response to this consultation, the government set out its intention to create an Office for Students in the white paper ‘Higher education: success as a knowledge economy’ (May 2016), supported by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-success-as-a-knowledge-economy-white-paper. During 2017, the department launched seven consultations on aspects of the reforms, set out in this legislation, relating to how the Office for Students will undertake its role as the new regulator for the higher education sector. These included, registration and other fees; the regulatory framework; the designation of the data and quality bodies; Degree Awarding Powers and University Title; and monetary and financial penalties.

Free Schools: Greater Manchester

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much pupil premium funding was allocated to (a) the Collective Spirit Free School in Oldham and (b) the Manchester Creative Studio in each year that those schools were in operation.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Collective Spirit Free School in Oldham received £6,825 in the financial year 2013- 2014 following its foundation in September 2013. Information on how much pupil premium schools received in each financial year since 2014 to 2015 is available on GOV.UK at the links listed below:Financial year 2014 to 2015https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2014-to-2015-final-allocations.Financial year 2015 to 2016https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2015-to-2016-allocations.Financial year 2016 to 2017https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2016-to-2017.Financial year 2017 to 2018https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2017-to-2018.

Free Schools: Greater Manchester

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has been made of how pupil premium funding allocated to (a) Collective Spirit Free School in Oldham and (b) the Manchester Creative Studio was spent in each year it was allocated that those schools were in operation; and whether representations on the use of premium funding have been (i) received by Ministers or officials of his Department, (ii) Ofsted and (iii) the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

Nadhim Zahawi: All schools are allocated pupil premium funding based on the number of pupils who have been recorded as eligible for free school meals during the past six years. A separate grant is allocated for pupils from service families. Pupil premium funding for looked-after children and those who left care through adoption or other official routes is allocated to local authorities, to be spent in consultation with schools. All schools have autonomy in how they spend pupil premium and the department does not carry out school-level assessment of the use of the pupil premium grant. The performance of disadvantaged pupils is presented annually in published performance tables, and most schools are required to publish details of their pupil premium strategy. While the Collective Free Spirit website is now closed there is a detailed statement on the Manchester Creative Studio website (https://www.mcstudio.co.uk/).  School inspection includes a focus on the progress and outcomes of disadvantaged pupils. Where inspectors identify concerns with the school’s provision for disadvantaged pupils they will recommend that a school commissions an independent review of its pupil premium use; a review was recommended in the most recent inspection of Collective Spirit Free School. Both of the schools in question were inspected and judged to be inadequate in the past fifteen months.

Pre-school Education: Standards

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children are in the lowest performing 20 per cent Early Years Foundation Stage profile in (a) the UK, (b) each region and (c) each local authority.

Nadhim Zahawi: Information requested on children in the lowest-performing 20 per cent Early Years Foundation Stage Profile in England and each local authority can be found in the attached spreadsheet. The Department for Education does not hold information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 



Children in the lowest-performing 20% Early Years
(Excel SpreadSheet, 33.75 KB)

Physical Education: Standards

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of PE lessons in schools.

Nadhim Zahawi: Through the primary PE and sport premium, the government has invested over £600 million of cross-government funding direct to primary schools to be spent on the improvement of PE and sport and to encourage the development of healthy, active lifestyles. The government has doubled the premium to £320 million a year from September 2017 using revenue from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. Schools must use the funding to make additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of PE and sport that will benefit pupils joining the school in future years. An independent evaluation report into the primary PE and sport premium policy was published in December 2015. The report provides findings from a two year research project into how schools used the premium and the impact of the funding. The report can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pe-and-sport-premium-an-investigation-in-primary-schools.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department plans to spend on childcare for disadvantaged children in 2018; and how much his Department has spent on such childcare in each of last three years.

Nadhim Zahawi: We fund 15 hours of free childcare a week for disadvantaged children aged two, three and four, as well as the early years pupil premium for disadvantaged three and four year olds. Our funding allocations for the following financial years can be found at:2018-19 (Initial allocation):https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-2019.2017-18 (Provisional allocation):https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2017-to-2018.2016-17 (Final allocation):https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2016-to-2017.2015-16 (Final allocation):https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2015-to-2016.

Pre-school Education: Inspections

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many early years education and childcare providers have not received an Ofsted inspection in the last (a) five and (b) ten years.

Nadhim Zahawi: Ofsted is the non-ministerial government department responsible for the regulation and inspection of early education and childcare providers. They publish a regular series of statistics relating to early years providers, which can be viewed from this link:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted/about/statistics.This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libaries of both Houses.

Pre-school Education

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of early years education and childcare settings have been sold and purchased by a new owner in each of the last three years.

Nadhim Zahawi: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department for Education or by Ofsted.

Sixth Form Education: Per Capita Costs

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been allocated from the public purse for 16 and 17 year olds studying at (a) school, (b) sixth form college and (c) otherwise per capita in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Allocations for students studying at post-16 institutions are not available separately for students aged 16 and 17, although data on total allocations and student numbers are available for 16 to 19-year olds as set out in published allocations. The following allocations show the average funding per student at each type of institution for the last five academic years: Average funding per student by institution type 2013/142014/152015/162016/172017/18Schools and Academies£4,812£4,601£4,522£4,450£4,443Sixth Form Colleges£4,674£4,601£4,609£4,529£4,498Other institutions£4,602£4,572£4,734£4,785£4,799  The above figures exclude high needs funding but include both full and part-time students, and allocations for the 16 to 19 bursary fund and free meals funding.The different types of institution are funded through the same national funding formula and have received the same £4,000 base rate of funding for full time 16 and 17-year olds throughout the period. Funding per student at ‘other institutions’ (in the main, further education colleges) is higher because these institutions have a higher proportion of students who attract extra disadvantage funding and who are taking technical courses with a higher cost weighting.

Sixth Form Colleges: Catholicism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to permit Catholic sixth-form colleges to join Catholic multi-academy trusts; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The department has put in place arrangements, which allow all sixth form colleges to convert to become academies and join multi-academy trusts. The Catholic Education Service has made clear that they and their dioceses will only allow Catholic Sixth Form Colleges to convert if the existing legal protections for their faith character are carried over once they become academies. Such a change will require primary legislation and we will keep this under review.

Vocational Guidance

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to consult further with (a) further education colleges and (b) other stakeholders on proposals contained in the Government's Careers Strategy.

Anne Milton: The department wants to work closely with all key stakeholders, including further education colleges when taking forward proposals announced in the recently published careers strategy. Since publishing the careers strategy, we have also published guidance for colleges so that their students receive high quality careers information, advice and guidance. The guidance is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/679639/Careers-Guidance.pdf. In developing this guidance, we worked with the Association of Colleges, and several other colleges and key stakeholders to make sure that the guidance was fit for purpose and in-line with commitments in the careers strategy. We want all young people to receive a programme of advice and guidance that is stable, structured and delivered by individuals with the right skills and experience. The government has asked The Careers & Enterprise Company to play a central role in the implementation of the careers strategy. The Company intends to publish a full implementation plan in March. This will be completed through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including Local Enterprise Partnerships and partners from the education and business sectors.

Mathematics: Curriculum

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will discuss with Stonewall its proposals for an inclusive maths curriculum.

Nick Gibb: We want to provide all young people with a curriculum that ensures they are prepared for adult life in modern Britain. The national curriculum, which focuses on the key knowledge that schools should teach, should enable children to acquire a secure understanding of the key concepts and provide them with the understanding they need to participate fully in society. It is left to teachers’ professional judgement to decide how to teach the national curriculum to meet the needs of their pupils.The UK has a proud record of promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and we remain committed to this.

Arts: Education

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of expenditure from the public purse on (a) time, (b) staff and (c) facilities associated with the creative arts in schools across England.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of his Department's funding for arts and music educationin (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The Department is investing an additional £1.3 billion in school funding, over and above existing expenditure, with core schools funding rising from almost £41 billion in 2017-18 to £43.5 billion in 2019-20. In addition to funding which schools receive to deliver their curriculum, the Government funds a wide range of music and cultural education programmes to ensure that every child, whatever their background, has access to a high quality arts education. The attached table shows total funding from the Department for these programmes. In maintained schools, music and art and design are compulsory subjects and although academies and free schools are not required to teach the national curriculum, they can use it as a benchmark. Beyond this, it is for schools to decide how best to deliver their curriculum and we have not made an assessment of trends in the level of expenditure from the public purse on (a) time, (b) staff and (c) facilities associated with the creative arts in schools across England.



Departmental Funding for these programmes 
(Word Document, 13.59 KB)

Maintained Schools: Standards

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authority maintained schools which have failed an Ofsted inspection receiving an inadequate judgement are still waiting for an academy sponsor to be confirmed six months after their inspection date.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy or free schools which have failed an Ofsted inspection as a result of receiving a judgement of inadequate are still waiting to be re-brokered with a different multi academy trust six months after their inspection date.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) maintained, (b) academy and (c) other schools which have received an Ofsted inspection of inadequate have been without a permanent academy sponsor for (i) one (ii) two (iii) three (iv) four (v) five (vi) six years or more.

Nadhim Zahawi: As at 1 January 2018, there were 74 local authority maintained schools who had received an inadequate Ofsted rating and were in the process of being matched to a suitable sponsor. Some of these schools have been re-inspected and are no longer inadequate. 19 local authority maintained schools have also received an inadequate Ofsted rating and are in the process of being issued an academy order. When an academy is judged inadequate by Ofsted, the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC), on behalf of the Secretary of State, can terminate their funding agreement. This is a power rather than a duty, meaning the RSC may decide to implement other measures to improve the school rather than terminate the funding agreement to bring about a change of trust. Not all academies receiving an inadequate judgement from Ofsted will be matched with an alternative academy sponsor. As such, we do not routinely record the time taken between an Ofsted inadequate judgement in relation to an academy and the academy being re-brokered to a new trust.Further information on trust transfers and grant funding is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academy-trust-transfers-and-grant-funding. Of the 74 local authority maintained schools issued with an academy order following an inadequate Ofsted judgement, 26 remain unmatched to an academy sponsor for over a year, 4 remain unmatched for two years or more and 9 have not been matched to an academy sponsor for three years or more. No school that has received an academy order, after becoming Ofsted inadequate, has been unmatched with a sponsor for four or more years. In cases where schools in receipt of an academy order remain unmatched to an academy sponsor, the school will be supported in other ways. This can include a preferred sponsor providing interim support, support provided by the local authority or another sponsor, or a teaching school alliance.

Free School Meals

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number of children in receipt of free school meals.

Nadhim Zahawi: The number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals is published in the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release – found under the files ‘National tables: SFR28/2017’ and ‘Underlying data: SFR28/2017’. For 2017 the information can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2017. The next ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release will be published in June 2018.

Department for Education: Ministers

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families in his Department is unpaid.

Anne Milton: It is not unusual for ministerial roles to be unpaid and this does not reflect the importance of the work.

Apprentices: Taxation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if it remains the Government’s policy to fund the entire apprenticeship programme for levy and non-levy paying employers in England from the proceeds of the apprenticeship levy.

Anne Milton: Some funding for apprenticeships comes from employers themselves. We ask those employers who do not pay the levy, or have insufficient funds in their apprenticeship service account, to make a 10 per cent contribution towards the costs of apprenticeship off-the-job training and assessment. We waive this co-investment for smaller employers who take on 16 to 18 year olds, disadvantaged apprentices, care leavers or those with learning disabilities. Her Majesty's Treasury collects the apprenticeship levy and the Devolved Administrations receive a proportionate share. In England, Her Majesty's Treasury has agreed the apprenticeships budget with the department. We are investing in skills across the whole of England and by 2019-20 the annual spending on apprenticeships in England will reach £2.45 billion, which is double that spent in 2010-11.

Apprentices: Training

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the Education and Skills Funding Agency did not award non-levy apprenticeship contracts to all (a) good and (b) outstanding specialist training providers and colleges in its recent procurement.

Anne Milton: The procurement was conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Contracts for the delivery of non-levy apprenticeship training were not awarded on the basis of Ofsted ratings, but on the basis of an Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) assessment of information supplied by providers against a defined set of criteria. As set out in the Invitation to Tender, the ESFA did not make initial offers of awards where providers did not meet the Award Threshold, which is the minimum score, or where the total contract value was below the minimum award of £200,000.

Pre-school Education: Disadvantaged

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 7 February 2018, HLWS446, on Schools and Early Years Update, whether any of the poorest families will no longer be eligible for the disadvantaged two-year-olds' early education entitlement under the proposals set out.

Nadhim Zahawi: Subject to parliamentary procedure, from 1 April 2018 a new net earned income threshold of £15,400 will come into force for families on Universal Credit. A typical family earning around this threshold, depending on their exact circumstances, would have a total annual household income of between £24,000 and £32,000, once benefits are taken into account. The two-year-old entitlement lasts for a year and once children have taken it up, they do not lose it, even if their family circumstances change. This means no two-year-old who has started his or her entitlement would lose it because of this change.

Academies: Sponsorship

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of times a multi-academy trust has withdrawn sponsorship of agreeing in principle to sponsor a school in the last 12 months.

Nadhim Zahawi: Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs), acting on behalf of my right hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and advised by headteacher boards, have responsibility for agreeing a suitable sponsor for a maintained school. RSCs assess suitability by considering a range of factors including: the skills and experience of key staff, the record of school improvement, financial management, geography, and any experience with similar schools or with similar pupil groups. Potential sponsors also conduct their own due diligence to make sure that they fully understand what is required to secure rapid and sustainable improvement of the school concerned. A sponsor may decide to withdraw at any stage during this process. As a result, this information is not held centrally and could only be obtained as disproportionate cost.

Free School Meals

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's consultation, eligibility for free school meals and the early years pupil premium under Universal Credit, which closed on 11 January 2018, what estimate he has made of the number of children who will be eligible for free school meals (a) if the proposals set out in the recent consultation are fully implemented and (b) five years after the proposals have been fully implemented.

Nadhim Zahawi: We estimate that by 2022 around 50,000 more children will benefit from free school meals, compared to the previous benefits system. We have not forecast the size of the eligible cohort five years beyond then, due to the level of uncertainty involved. However, as set out in our consultation response, we are committed to reviewing the level of our threshold once Universal Credit rollout has been completed, to ensure that the most disadvantaged children continue to benefit from a free meal.

Apprentices: Taxation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what safeguards are in place to ensure that level two apprenticeship opportunities are not reduced under the apprenticeship levy.

Anne Milton: The availability of apprenticeships at any level is determined by employers offering opportunities that best meet the skills they need. We have seen 51,990 intermediate (Level 2) and 50,760 advanced (Level 3) apprenticeship starts so far in the 2017/18 academic year, which account for the majority of apprenticeship opportunities overall. We are working closely with employers to support them with their apprenticeship programmes and feedback has shown they are positive about the benefits which apprentices can bring to their business.

Faith Schools: Admissions

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to  the Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125493 on Faith Schools; what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on the effect of the removal of the cap on the distribution of (a) school admissions and (b)catchement areas.

Anne Milton: The department is considering carefully its response to the 'Schools that work for everyone' consultation, including in relation to the faith cap. We will set out our response in due course. With any free school proposal, the department takes account of the views of‎ local authorities when making decisions. This will continue for future free schools application rounds.

Faith Schools: Admissions

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125493 on Faith Schools, what assessment he has made of whether allowing faith schools greater freedom to discriminate on the grounds of faith conflicts on the Government's proposals to strengthening equalities legislation.

Anne Milton: Faith designated schools are allowed to admit children on the basis of their faith as part of their oversubscription criteria. The ability to do this is ‎permitted by the Equality Act.

Students: Social Media

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken to ensure that students are educated on issues of privacy and personal security on social media.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed to ensuring that children and young people stay safe online. The Department’s ‘Keeping children safe in education’ statutory guidance states that schools should ensure children are taught about safeguarding, includes staying safe online. E-safety is covered at all Key Stages in the national curriculum for computing. It is compulsory in maintained schools and can be used as a benchmark by academies and free schools. The content was developed with input from e-safety experts including Childnet, NSPCC and the UK Safer Internet Centre. The introduction of e-safety content at Key Stage 1 reflects the fact that children are increasingly using the internet and social media from a young age. The Department is working closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on any additional content on online safety that may be taught through the new subjects of Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education and potentially through compulsory Personal, Social, Health and Economic education. The UK Council for Child Internet Safety recently published 'Education for a Connected World framework'. This Framework supports one of the key aims of the Government’s Internet Safety Strategy of supporting children to stay safe and make a positive contribution online. It includes a section on privacy and security.

Young People: Disadvantaged

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what percentage of young people who were eligible for free school meals in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England were in education, employment or training after completing Key Stage 4 in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Nick Gibb: The attached table shows the number and percentage of pupils who were eligible for free school meals in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England and went on to sustained education, employment or training destinations after completing Key Stage 4 in academic years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 (the last three years for which data is available).Information on pupil destinations is published annually, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations. 



Pupils with sustained EET after key stage 4
(Word Document, 16.68 KB)

GCE A-level: Disadvantaged

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of young people in (a) Ashfield, constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England who were eligible for free school meals at age 15 achieved two or more A levels or equivalent qualifications by the age of 19 in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Nick Gibb: The Department’s official estimates of Level 2 and 3 attainment by young people aged 19 are published annually. The latest figures available were published in March 2017 and the latest cohort for which attainment at age 19 is available is those aged 19 in 2016. The latest publication can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/level-2-and-3-attainment-by-young-people-aged-19-in-2016. It includes both national and local authority estimates by free school meal eligibility. A young person achieving two or more A levels or equivalent is classed as having achieved a full Level 3. Constituency figures are not included in the publication but are given in the table below. The constituency has been allocated based on the postcode of the young person’s residence at age 15. The local authority figure for Nottinghamshire has also been allocated based on the postcode of residence. This differs slightly to the methodology used in the local authority tables in the referenced publication which is based on the school location at age 15; however figures at local authority level are broadly similar.Proportion of cohort 19 achieving full level 3EnglandNottinghamshireAshfield Constituencyin 2014Of those eligible for FSM35.7%23.4%18.1%Of those not eligible for FSM60.5%55.8%43.1%All57.0%52.5%40.2%in 2015Of those eligible for FSM36.4%22.8%16.1%Of those not eligible for FSM61.0%55.2%42.2%All57.5%51.7%38.1%in 2016Of those eligible for FSM36.2%26.7%23.2%Of those not eligible for FSM60.7%56.9%42.2%All57.1%53.3%39.3%1: Local authority and constituency are based on young person’s home postcode at age 15

Higher Education: Disadvantaged

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what percentage of young people eligible for free school meals at 15 in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England entered higher education by the age of 19 in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what percentage of young people eligible for free school meals at 15 from (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England entered higher education at a Russell Group university in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The department publishes information on the percentage of 15 year old pupils from state-funded and special schools by free school meal status who entered higher education (HE) by age 19 by local authority and region. Figures for Nottinghamshire and England can be found in Table 2a of the following file:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/635104/SFR39-2017-MainTables.xlsx. We do not publish information for progression to Russell Group universities on this basis. However, figures for the percentage of 15 year old pupils from state-funded and special schools by free school meal status who entered the most selective HE institutions by age 19 by local authority and region were published as part of the Social Mobility Index. The most selective institutions are defined as the top third of providers, ranked by the average Universities and Colleges Admissions Service tariff score. Figures for Nottinghamshire and England for the latest three years are available in the Selective HE sheet of the following file: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662507/SMI_2017_Final_v1.1.xlsx. Data is not available at parliamentary constituency level.

Primary Education: Free School Meals

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125487, whether local authorities have discretion to not provide a free school meal to a child in (a) reception (b) year 1 and (c) year 2 because of their age.

Nadhim Zahawi: Since 2014, state funded schools in England have been required by law to provide free lunches to all children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2, under the universal infant fee school meals policy. The criteria are not age related. The legislation is clear that local authorities must provide a free meal to a child in reception, Year 1 and Year 2, where a meal has been requested.

Communication Trust

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2018 to Question 125414, on Communication Trust, what estimate his Department has made of the number of speech, language and communication needs specialists jobs that may be at risk as a result of his Department's decision to not renew that contract.

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2018, to Question 125414, on Communication Trust, for how many consecutive years his Department has had contracts with The Communications Trust related to speech, language and communication needs.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department for Education has funded The Communication Trust (TCT) to provide support to those working with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) since 2007. Between 2007 and 2013 this was via direct grants to TCT; since 2013, it moved to a contractual arrangement, with funding secured via an open competition.In March 2017, the Department for Education agreed a one year contract with I CAN, on behalf of TCT, to develop sustainable programmes and resources to help the workforce to develop their skills in supporting children and young people with SLCN. That contract is due to end, as planned, at the end of March 2018. The purpose of the contract was not to provide specialist roles, such as Speech and Language Therapists. Speech and Language Therapists working with children are employed by local authorities, the health service or directly by schools. Therefore, no roles involving the delivery of these services directly to children should be at risk as a consequence of this one year contract ending.We remain committed to supporting those with SLCN and want to do more to embed knowledge and ensure good practice is disseminated and understood widely. That is why our new Social Mobility Action Plan (SMAP), ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/667690/Social_Mobility_Action_Plan_-_for_printing.pdf), prioritises work in the early years to close the word gap and improve early language acquisition for disadvantaged children. The SMAP includes proposals for continuing professional development training; and an early language assessment tool for health visitors and early years practitioners, to ensure that any language delays can be picked up and the right support put in place quickly. We expect to invite tenders for this work and would welcome bids from all suitably qualified organisations or consortia.The department is in the process of procuring a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) strategic workforce contractor, to help schools to develop improved knowledge and skills among their staff, in relation to specific impairments. In addition, we are encouraging bids for the Strategic School Improvement Fund and the Teaching Leadership Innovation Fund which focus on improving provision for pupils with SEND. The Education Training Foundation is also being funded to increase the capability and capacity of the workforce to respond to the needs of students in Further Education.

Trimega

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January to Question 123732, if he will list (a) those local authorities that have informed his Department that they have commissioned hair strand tests for drug and alcohol use from Trimega and (b) the reasons why each local authority commissioned such tests.

Nadhim Zahawi: Local authorities commission hair strand tests for drug and alcohol use for a number of different reasons, as part of their work to safeguard children. A number of local authorities have informed the department that they commissioned forensic hair strand tests for drug and alcohol use from Trimega Laboratories Limited (Trimega) during the period January 2010 to April 2014. We continue to work with local authorities to establish the extent to which they used Trimega during this period.

Department for Education: Child Care Vouchers

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of eligible employees of his Department use childcare vouchers.

Anne Milton: There are 890 employees in receipt of childcare vouchers in the department. This equates to 16 per cent of the workforce. This includes employees in the department’s Executive Agencies, which comprises of the Education and Skills Funding Agency, the National College for Teaching and Leadership and the Standards and Testing Agency.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Air Pollution: Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Dartford Crossing (A282) will be included in his Department's Air Quality Plan.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Yes, it has been.

Animal Breeding: Licensing

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether inspections carried out by inspectors certified by a body accredited by UKAS will be duplicated by local authority inspectors under the forthcoming animal establishments licensing regime.

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals for there to be a requirement for local authorities to work collaboratively with the UK Accreditation Service in order to avoid the duplication of inspections of dog breeders.

George Eustice: New regulations on licensing of activities involving animals were laid in draft on 8 February. They replace the existing laws on dog breeding, and in conjunction with supporting guidance being finalised, will allow those operators certified by UKAS-accredited organisations to be assessed as lower risk and subject to fewer inspections and a lower fee. Within the requirements of the inspection regime set out in the regulations, local authorities will be encouraged to avoid duplication of inspections where facilities are already inspected by UKAS-accredited bodies and to work collaboratively with UKAS-accredited organisations on this. My officials have held a number of joint meetings with UKAS and local authority representatives to encourage this cooperation.

Animal Breeding: Dogs

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dog breeders will require a licence under the forthcoming animal establishments licensing regime.

George Eustice: My department estimated in the impact assessment that around 4,950 dog breeders will need licences under the new regulatory scheme up from around 600 at present.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to communicate to farmers how the Basic Payment Scheme will operate in 2020.

George Eustice: We plan to guarantee that Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments will continue for a transition period in England, lasting a number of years beyond the implementation period. During this transition period, we propose to first reduce the largest BPS payments in England. We will consult widely on both the approach to reducing payments and on how long the transition should be. We will set out further detail in our command paper, which we plan to publish this spring.

Pâté de Foie Gras: Imports

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to ban the import of foie gras after the UK leaves the EU.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of prohibiting the importation of foie gras.

George Eustice: The production of foie gras by force feeding is banned in the UK. However foie gras is produced in some EU member states and can be imported to the UK. Under the rules of the single market it is not possible to prevent the import of foie gras. Leaving the EU and the single market therefore provides an opportunity to consider whether the UK can adopt a different approach in future. However, were the UK to commit to continue following the rules of the single market, as proposed by some, it would not be possible to consider a ban on foie gras imports.

Salmon: North Shields

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of a cessation of drift net salmon fishing in 2018 on heritage fishing in North Shields.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The North East coast net fishery, including drift nets at North Shields, operates as a coastal mixed stock fishery, catching salmon from a large number of different populations from rivers in both Scotland and England on the eastern coast of Britain. The UK Government has international obligations as a member of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) to close coastal mixed stock fisheries as it is not possible to manage them in such a way as to effectively protect contributing salmon stocks. Closing fisheries is not an action that is taken without careful consideration. In reaching this position the Environment Agency (EA) has followed the NASCO guidelines and applied the Precautionary Approach to the conservation and management of salmon populations, giving priority to conserving and protecting salmon stocks. The EA understands that these new management measures could impose a financial burden on licensed drift netsmen. It has not taken the decision to propose measures lightly, but salmon are in decline across the country. On the grounds of ensuring stocks exist at a sustainable level now and in the future, these are the measures that are being proposed. The EA intends to formally advertise its proposals later this month and all stakeholders will have the opportunity to respond to the proposed byelaws and to request changes or modifications.

Salmon: Republic of Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on steps to ensure the revival of Wild Atlantic Salmon stocks.

George Eustice: Defra officials have had discussions with the Republic of Ireland relating to the revival of Wild Atlantic Salmon stocks on three separate occasions since June last year: at the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation’s (NASCO) annual meeting in Sweden in June; in September to discuss NASCO’s International Year of the Salmon (IYS) symposium; and in November to continue discussions on the IYS.

Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill (Draft)

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of drafting the Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill.

George Eustice: This work was covered within existing budgets as part of business as usual activity.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Hedgehogs

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department and its agencies have taken to make the land on which their buildings are situated hedgehog-friendly.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: All public authorities have a duty to have regard for conserving biodiversity when managing their land and buildings. For example, Defra and its agencies have undertaken a number of initiatives to encourage wildlife and support the national pollinator strategy.However, no formal assessment has been made of steps taken to make such sites hedgehog friendly.

Hedgehogs: Conservation

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Enviornment, Food and Rural Affairs, what meetings his Department has held with the (a) British Hedgehog Preservation Society and (b) People’s Trust for Endangered Species in the last two years on tackling the decline in hedgehog numbers.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra Ministers met the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species in February 2016 to discuss tackling the decline in hedgehog numbers. Natural England holds regular meetings with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species covering a number of species to progress actions identified to support hedgehogs.

Bottles: Recycling

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans intends to implement a plastic bottle deposit scheme in the UK similar to that in operation in Norway.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: As part of the Litter Strategy for England, the Government has established the independent Voluntary and Economic Incentives working group. From 2 October 2017 to 20 November 2017 this working group held a call for evidence on measures to reduce littering of drinks containers and promote recycling. The focus was rigid and flexible plastic, and glass or metal drinks containers that are sold sealed, and used for the sale of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages often for consumption ‘on the go’. This included seeking evidence on the costs, benefits and impacts of deposit and reward and return schemes. The working group is currently analysing responses to this call for evidence and is due to provide advice to Ministers on potential incentives for drinks containers early this year.

Food Poverty

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture of his Department’s Corporate Report,  Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, published on 14 December 2017, what plans the Government has for tackling household food insecurity in the UK.

George Eustice: The proportion of household income spent on food by the poorest 20% of households has remained constant at around 16% since 2008. The Government is committed to providing a strong safety net to those who need it through a well established system of hardship payments and benefit advances. The UK has a high degree of food security as shown by the 2010 UK Food Security Assessment which analysed the different national and global factors impacting on UK food supply. We have recently commenced a review of the assessment.

Circuses: Wildlife

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) how many wild animals and (b) of which species are currently licensed in circuses in the UK.

George Eustice: There are two licensed circuses: Peter Jolly’s CircusCamel (Camelus bactrianus) 1Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) 4Fox (Vulpesvulpes) 1Racoon (Procyon lotor) 3Zebra (Equus burchelli chapmani) 3Zebu (Bos indicus) 1Blue & Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) 1 Circus MondaoZebra (Equus burchelli chapmani) 1Camel (Camelus bactrianus) 2Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) 2 Total - 7 species and 19 animals

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Air Pollution

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on including the Dartford Crossing in his Department’s Air Quality Plan as a result of the reclassification of that crossing as an urban road in 2017.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Since the Dartford Crossing was reclassified as an urban road by the Department for Transport, this section of road has been included in Defra’s air quality modelling.

Air Pollution: Dartford

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons his Department's Air Quality Action Plan concluded that no road in Dartford would be over the limit value for air pollution this year.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Our UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations was informed by modelling which uses the latest available evidence, which indicates that all modelled roads in Dartford are expected to be compliant with the NO2 limit value by 2018.

Air Pollution: Dartford

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which road in Dartford was identified in his Department’s Air Quality Action Plan to be over the limit value for air pollution in 2017.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The A206.

Goat Racing

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish (a) regulations and (b) guidance on goat racing; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to issue (a) regulations and (b) guidance on ferret racing; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: No.No.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union of 31 January, Official Report, column 833, on the Government’s EU Exit Analysis, whether the document referred to has been classified as a market access assessment by his Department.

Mr Steve Baker: The Government is undertaking a wide range of continuing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. The document referred to is preliminary and has only very recently been presented to ministers. It does not reflect this Government’s policy, and is not representative of the expected outcome of the negotiations. The Government has made this analysis available to the EU Exit Select Committee and to all members of both Houses through a confidential reading room.

Brexit

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the EU Exit Analysis - Cross Whitehall Briefing was commissioned by the Market Access and Budget Directorate team in his Department.

Mr Steve Baker: The work is a cross-Whitehall exercise, leveraging the best expertise from each department. It has not been led by any single Department, nor indeed any single Directorate. As with all the Government’s work on EU exit, DExEU plays a coordinating role, working with the relevant Departments across Whitehall.

Brexit

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2018 to Question 126436 on Department for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of compliance with his Department's policy of not sharing reports with individuals and organisations outside government before the news report of 29 January 2018.

Suella Fernandes: Preliminary economic analysis conducted by the Government was shared with a news organisation without authorisation. We take all leaks of information very seriously but do not comment on specific investigations.

Brexit

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2018 to Question 126363 on Department for Exiting the European Union, for what reason he did not confirm the number of assessments his Department has conducted into the economic effect of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Steve Baker: It is not standard practice to provide a running commentary on continuing analysis, including titles and numbers of documents.

Brexit

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether a leak inquiry was conducted by his Department following the report that a BBC journalist had access to a market access assessment.

Suella Fernandes: The Government does not comment on specific leak investigations. We take all leaks of information very seriously.

Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many official visits he has made to Northern Ireland since June 2017.

Suella Fernandes: Avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is a key priority for the UK Government and we remain firmly committed to that objective. The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union visited Northern Ireland in September 2016 meeting with the then Northern Ireland Executive and stakeholders including NI Screen and SONI (System Operator for Northern Ireland). Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Robin Walker MP, visited Northern Ireland with former Northern Ireland Office Minister Chloe Smith in September 2017, visiting the border and meeting with Re-Gen waste and InterTradeIreland. Northern Ireland Office Ministers have also conducted an extensive programme of engagement in Northern Ireland on EU exit with a wide range of stakeholders.

Attorney General

Court Orders

Diana Johnson: To ask the Attorney General, how many times the Crown Prosecution Service logged concerns about alleged breaches of (a) Anti-Social Behaviour Orders on Conviction, (b) other Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and (c) Criminal Behaviour Orders on its case management system in each year from 2004-05; how many of those cases led to a (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction; and  how many of those convictions resulted in a maximum tariff custodial sentence for the respective order.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of concerns logged on its Case Management System (CMS) about alleged breaches of Anti-Social Behaviour or Criminal Behaviour Orders. While no central record is collated showing the number of concerns logged about compliance with court orders, a central record of the number of breaches of Criminal Behaviour Orders and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders prosecuted at magistrates’ courts is held. A breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order is prosecuted by way of Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, while breaches of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order or interim Anti-Social Behaviour Order were prosecuted by way of Section 1(10)/Section 1D and 1(10) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The table below shows the volumes of these breach offences, in which a prosecution commenced, in each year since 2004-05.-Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 { 30(1) and (2) } (Breach of a CBO)Crime and Disorder Act 1998 { 1(10) } (Breach of an ASBO)Crime and Disorder Act 1998 { 1D and 1(10) } (Breach of an interim ASBO)2004-200508,50802005-2006013,5361082006-2007013,6593742007-2008012,9984872008-2009011,4134552009-2010010,5584112010-201109,7395012011-201208,4392872012-201307,5752122013-201407,2012782014-20151376,9131932015-20162,1444,480792016-20174,3231,92511Data Source: CPS Management Information System There is no indication of the number of individual defendants prosecuted for these offences or the final outcome of the prosecution proceeding or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at the time of finalisation. It is often the case that defendants will be prosecuted for more than one offence in the same set of proceedings. The official statistics relating to sentencing on conviction, including whether a term of imprisonment was imposed, are maintained by the Ministry of Justice

Injunctions to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance

Diana Johnson: To ask the Attorney General, how many cases of alleged breaches of Injunctions to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance have been logged on the Crown Prosecution Service’s case management system in each year since 2014-15; how many of those cases have been heard in court; how many of those litigants have been found to be in contempt of court; and how many of those litigants have been given the maximum possible prison sentence for that offence.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service does not hold the information requested. Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 gives a court power to grant a civil injunction for anti-social behaviour. A breach of a civil injunction is not a criminal offence.

Criminal Behaviour Orders

Diana Johnson: To ask the Attorney General, how many requests to apply for Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) received in each year from 2014-15; and on how many of those occasions the CPS subsequently decided (a) to and (b) not to apply for the CBO through the courts.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of requests to apply for Criminal Behaviour Orders received or any subsequent applications to courts for orders to be made. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Human Trafficking: Prosecutions

Andrew Percy: To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Government is taking to increase international cooperation in the prosecution of human traffickers.

Robert Buckland: The UK is taking an ambitious approach to tackling modern slavery internationally, working to deepen cooperation with countries from where we receive high numbers of victims and with countries of high prevalence in order to support their efforts.Later this month the Crown Prosecution Service will host an international summit for Prosecutors General from 21 countries around the world. It is an ambitious summit which aims to increase activity, identify ways to better support victims and witnesses, and establishing a strong, active international network to tackle the crime of Modern Slavery. Additionally, there are already 30 specialist prosecutors based overseas, building capability in local criminal justice systems to tackle serious and organised crime, including that of Modern Slavery.

Wales Office

Tidal Power: Swansea Bay

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have held with the Welsh Government on the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon since 6 December 2017; and when and where such meetings took place.

Alun Cairns: Officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales met with Welsh Government representatives on 26 January 2018 at the offices of BEIS, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET. No other meetings with the Welsh Government regarding the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon involving myself, Wales Office ministers or officials have taken place since 6 December 2017.

Railways: Wales

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has made representations to the Secretary of State for Transport on the railway safety implications of the cancellation of rail electrification programmes in and to Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Cairns: The UK Government is investing record amounts in modernising this country’s rail infrastructure, including a £5.7bn investment in high-tech IEP trains. Responsibility for maintaining the safety of our railway operations lies with Network Rail and the Train Operating Companies, and they will assess the safety impact of any change on the network to ensure that this is delivered safely.

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Staff

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of National Compliance and Enforcement Service staff that will be employed in each year to 2022.

Lucy Frazer: The Transforming Compliance and Enforcement Programme (TCEP) will transform the National Compliance and Enforcement Service (NCES) and the way in which it operates. We will introduce a new operating model supported by new digital systems. As well as changing the way we do business, the introduction of new technology and streamlined process will increase efficiency, ensuring HMCTS staff can increase performance through focusing on key enforcement activities. It is estimated that the number of full time equivalent staff working in the NCES from 2020 onward will be 548. Until this point we expect the current FTE level to remain at a similar level to now (1497 in 2017), with the reduction being phased through 2019. The reductions will be made possible through the introduction of improved technology, including a new finance and accounting system, which will enable the automation or streamlining of many of current manual processes and the centralisation to three national enforcement centres from over 50 dispersed locations. Consistent with the provision of wider government financial and accounting services, the ongoing administration of the new finance and accounting system will be delivered through an external provider.

Amey

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the repair completion rate compiled by Amey at each prison for which that company has a contract to provide maintenance services, for each month since January 2016.

Rory Stewart: Please see the attached table. The repair completion rate has been interpreted as the percentage of reactive maintenance tasks responded to and satisfactorily rectified in month in accordance with the corresponding service level. Private providers play an important role in maintaining the prison estate. Performance of all providers, including adherence to reactive maintenance, is closely monitored and we will not hesitate to take action where standards fall short.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 25.41 KB)

Young Offenders

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children and young people under 18 years old who entered the youth justice system had a diagnosis of a (a) personality disorder, (b) speech or language problem or (c) learning difficulty for each year for which data is available since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee: We do not collect this data centrally We hold the following information, which is of relevance:A data matching exercise between DfE and MoJ found that, of children sentenced in 2014, around 45% of children with short custodial sentences, and 46% with a high-end community sentence have Special Education Needs without a statement (compared with 17% of pupils in state-funded secondary schools). There are high numbers of young people with special educational needs including speech, language and communication needs in youth custody. Data collected to inform the custody placement decision for young people shows that 32% were recorded as having ‘learning disability or difficulty concerns’ between April 2014 and March 2016.

Young Offenders: Mental Illness

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children and young people under 18 years old who entered the youth justice system experienced a case of (a) depression or (b) anxiety for each year for which data is available since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee: We do not collect this data centrally. We hold the following information, which is of relevance:Of new admissions to youth custody between April 2014 and March 2016:32% were recorded as having learning difficulties or difficulty concerns; and33% were recorded as having mental health concerns.Source: Key characteristics of admission to youth custody, 2016, YJB.Among boys and young men accommodated in under-18 YOIs during 2016/17:27% considered themselves to have a mental health or emotional problem;Source: Children in custody 2016/17. An analysis of 12-18 year olds perceptions of their experiences of in secure training centres and young offender institutions. 2017, HMIP.

Secure Accommodation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average occupancy rate of a secure unit for youth offenders in England has been for each year for which data is available since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee: The table below shows average occupancy rates for the youth estate in England and Wales for the years ending March 2010 to March 2017. Year ending MarchOccupancy rate20102011201220132014201520162017Secure Children's Homes85%86%91%86%80%73%82%92%Secure Training Centres84%88%93%85%89%85%83%75%Young Offender Institutions80%82%88%67%73%80%84%81%Total81%83%89%70%77%80%83%81% *It is not possible to provide the occupancy rates for establishments in England only without incurring disproportionate costs. There are only two establishments in Wales for children and young people we do not expect the occupancy rates to be significantly different when looking at England only. *Occupancy rate is calculated by dividing the total youth custody population including 18 year olds held in the secure estate for children and young people by the number of beds available. *Figures may not match those published in previous Youth Justice Statistics due to rounding or revisions. *These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Secure Accommodation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many places existed for children and young people under 18 years old needing to be housed in a secure accommodation unit for each year for which data is available since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee: The number of children entering the youth justice system for the first time continues to decline year on year and we now have a concentrated mix of young people in custody – many of whom demonstrate very challenging and complex behaviour. We are investing an additional £64m to improve youth custody, including boosting the number of frontline staff in public sector Young Offender Institutions by 20% - all of whom will be specially trained to work in the youth estate. The table below shows the number of commissioned beds for the youth estate in England and Wales for the years ending March 2010 to March 2017. Year ending MarchOccupancy rate20102011201220132014201520162017Secure Children's Homes194191183166167138138117Secure Training Centres301301301301301243243223Young Offender Institutions3,0072,2852,0242,0241,154970970896Total3,5022,7772,5082,4911,6221,3511,3511,236 *These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Legal Representation: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many court cases were one or both defendants without legal representation in (a) Wales and (b) Gwent for (i) civil and (ii) criminal cases in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: Figures on the number of defendants by legal representation status in the Crown Court in Wales for the years 2010 to 2016 are shown in Table 1. There is no Crown Court in Gwent; cases would be heard in other courts nearby.Table 1: Representation status, at first hearing, of defendants dealt with in the Crown Court, Wales, annually 2010 - 2016   Year Representation status at first hearingTotal number of defendants dealt within trial casesKnown representation1No advocate representation / unknown2NumberNumberPercentage3NumberPercentage320105,9375,75097%1873%20115,5325,38897%1443%20125,4795,33797%1423%20135,2755,16198%1142%20145,3675,17496%1934%20155,6775,43396%2444%20164,7594,58796%1724% Notes:1) For criminal court cases the Ministry of Justice publishes annual figures on representation status, at first hearing, of defendants dealt with in the Crown Court. The latest figures up to 2016 can be found here in AC11 of the main tables: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-20172) Information on unrepresented defendants in Magistrates’ courts is not held centrally. Figures on the number of defended civil court claims by details of legal representation for Wales and Gwent between 2013 and 2016 are found in Table 2a and Table 2b: Table 2a: Number of defended civil court claims by details of legal representation, in Wales, annually 2013 – 2016  Wales   YearParties with legal representation   Both Claimant and DefendantClaimant OnlyDefendant OnlyNeither claimant nor defendantTotal 20135,5656072947567,222 20143,4154902256164,746 20153,3774591696074,612 20163,2434832145094,449  Table 2b: Number of defended civil court claims by details of legal representation, in Newport (Gwent), annually 2013 – 2016.  Newport (Gwent)   YearParties with legal representation   Both Claimant and DefendantClaimant OnlyDefendant OnlyNeither claimant nor defendantTotal20137322336134 201450201121102 20157027924130 20164120526126  Notes:3) For civil court cases, the Ministry of Justice publishes national quarterly defence figures by legal representation of the parties. The latest annual national figures up to 2016 can be found in table 1.6 below:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/665074/civil-justice-stats-main-tables-july-sept-2017.xlsx4) For both national and local data, information is not available before 2013.5) Annual data is not included for 2017 as Q4 data has not yet been released.6) The total number of defended civil claims in Wales includes cases from the Wales County Court Money Claims Centre. Table 3: Figures on the legal representation of applicants and respondents in family proceedings in Wales from 2011-2016Legal representation status of applicants and respondents in Family Courts cases with at least one hearing in Wales Representation status at most recent hearing Applicants Respondents Total applicants Known representationNo advocate representation / unknown Total respondentsKnown representationNo advocate representation / unknownYearNumberNumber%Number% NumberNumber%Number%20116,2935,00380%1,29020% 7,5864,48759%3,09941%20126,8615,34278%1,51922% 8,3274,83158%3,49642%20137,1685,14772%2,02128% 8,4563,84145%4,61555%20146,1733,91863%2,25537% 7,3953,46247%3,93353%20155,8823,84765%2,03535% 7,1003,37548%3,72552%20166,5144,17264%2,34236% 8,0083,96850%4,04050% Table 4: Figures on the legal representation of applicants and respondents in family proceedings in Gwent from 2011-2016Legal representation status of applicants and respondents in Family Courts cases with at least one hearing in Gwent, Wales Representation status at most recent hearing Applicants Respondents Total applicants Known representationNo advocate representation / unknown Total respondentsKnown representationNo advocate representation / unknownYearNumberNumber%Number% NumberNumber%Number%20111,06884279%22621% 1,39381358%58042%20121,16688876%27824% 1,54691859%62841%20131,20886872%34028% 1,49765944%83856%20141,07062358%44742% 1,37661645%76055%20151,19182269%36931% 1,48679453%69247%20161,32287366%44934% 1,63185953%77247% Notes:   1. Family cases include divorce, financial remedy, public law, private law, domestic violence remedy and adoption cases.2. Self-representation is determined by the field 'legal representation' in Familyman being left blank, and 'at least one hearing' refers to non-vacated scheduled hearings, rather than actual hearings that have taken place.3. Gwent includes the following courts: Newport (Gwent), Gwent FPC, and Gwent county court 4. Data on all case types was not collected prior to 2011

Legal Aid Scheme: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people resident in (a) Wales, (b) Gwent and (c) Newport received legal aid in each civil and criminal category in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: The Legal Aid Agency records the number of acts of assistance granted, rather than the number of people who have received public funding. One person may be granted more than one certificate. Information on volumes of completed legal aid matters broken down by region, based on the location of the legal aid provider office, is published annually, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/626057/legal-aid-statistics-provider-and-area-data-2016-2017.csv The information relevant to your specific question has been extracted into the attached Annex for ease of reference.

Sexual Offences: Rights of Accused

Bim Afolami: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure the anonymity of defendants in the case of rape and sexual assault.

Lucy Frazer: In 1976, Parliament enacted legislation that prohibited the identification of complainants and defendants in rape cases. Twelve years later, however, the provision for anonymity of defendants was repealed, on the grounds that their situation was not comparable to that of complainants, who might not be willing to come forward and give evidence if their identity were revealed. There are no current plans to revisit this decision.

Prisoners: Vocational Guidance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has for prisoners to receive professional and impartial careers advice once the current provision from the National Careers Service ends on 1 April 2018.

Rory Stewart: We are working to put in place an alternative approach to commissioning information, advice and guidance as part of our wider reforms of education - one that will encourage more joined up delivery of learning and employment guidance and support. This will support the prisoner from the beginning of their sentence and throughout their journey. With the experienced Offender Learning and Skills Service providers, the DWP work coaches and the Community Rehabilitation Companies there will continue to be a range of employment support and guidance services for prisoners. We are committed to providing education and training to deliver more effective rehabilitation to address the needs of offenders. The Education Skills Funding Agency National Careers Service contract for services in custody ends in March 2018. We are reviewing options for alternative provision as part of wider employment services. This will give governors further control over how their education and training offer is delivered.

Court Orders

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Anti-Social Behaviour Orders on conviction were granted in each year from 2004/05 to 2013/14; and how many Criminal Behaviour Orders were granted in each year from 2014/15 to present.

Lucy Frazer: The number of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) on conviction granted in each year from 2004/05 to 2013/14 at all courts in England and Wales is shown in the attached table 1. The number of Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) granted in each year from 2014/15 to the end of 2016 (latest currently available) at all courts in England and Wales is shown in the attached table 2. The Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) came in to force on 20 October 2014 and replaced the Anti-Social Behaviour Order on conviction. Court proceedings data for 2017 are planned for publication in May 2018.



Final tables
(Excel SpreadSheet, 10.7 KB)

Ministry of Justice: Public Opinion

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent by his Department on (a) focus groups and (b) opinion polling in each year since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee: Information about how much money the Ministry of Justice has spent in respect of focus groups and opinion polling each year since 2010 is not available as this information is not collected.

Ministry of Justice: G4S

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many fines G4S has paid under contracts with his Department in each year since 2010; and for what reason each of those fines was imposed.

Rory Stewart: Contracts do not include fines and penalties as these are not recognised in English Law. The term used is ‘Financial remedies’ and this is what the PQ has been interpreted to request.  The Ministry of Justice regards well-run prisons as fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system, and a vital part of our reform plans. Privately managed prison providers achieve the majority of their contractual targets. However, we will not hesitate to take action where standards fall short. Privately managed prison contracts set out a strict performance framework, consisting of prescriptive performance targets. Failure by the provider to meet performance results in performance points and, potentially, financial remedies being applied against the provider. The total value of financial remedies imposed for each financial year has been provided and is included in the below table. YearValue of Financial RemedyPercentage of Financial Remedy against annual contract(s) value2010/2011£257,7970.3%2011/2012£166,8300.5%2012/2013£1,105,3860.5%2013/2014£1,181,9290.51%2014/2015£804,0410.4%2015/2016£557,2980.34%2016/2017£2,879,0401.12%2017/2018Figures not yet finalisedFigures not yet finalisedTotal£6,952,321

Ministry of Justice: Carillion

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many fines Carillion has paid under contract with the his Department in each year since 2010; and for what reason each of those fines was  imposed.

Rory Stewart: Contracts do not include fines and penalties as these are not recognised in English Law. The term used is ‘Financial remedies’ and this is what the PQ has been interpreted to request. Contracts set out a strict performance framework, consisting of prescriptive performance targets. Failure by the provider to meet performance targets results in performance points and, potentially, financial remedies being applied against the provider. The total value of financial remedies imposed for each financial year has been provided and is included in the below table. Figures are only provided for those year where the contract was in effect. 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016£1,329,9492016/2017£2,417,4762017/2018£310,118Total£4,057,543

Magistrates

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates there were in (a) 2016-17, (b) 2015-16, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2012-13, (f) 2011-12 and (g) 2010-11.

Lucy Frazer: The number of magistrates in each year from 1 April 2010 to 1 April 2016 is already in the public domain. Number of magistrates as at 1 April 2010:https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications/magistrates-in-post-2010/ Number of magistrates in Post as at 1 April 2011:https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications/magistrates-in-post-2011/ Number of magistrates as at 1 April 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 (figure 13):https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/judicial-diversity-statistics-2017-1.pdf

Magistrates

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what  steps his Department is taking to increase the diversity of magistrates.

Lucy Frazer: The Government is committed to improving the diversity of the magistracy. Currently 54% of all magistrates are women; 11% declare themselves as being from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and 4% of the magistracy are under 40.The Lord Chief Justice has responsibility for the recruitment of magistrates. The Judicial Office has worked with the National Bench Chairs’ Forum, the Magistrates Association and others to review the attraction, recruitment, selection and welfare of magistrates. Actions will be taken to raise awareness of vacancies and the skills required to succeed as a magistrate for potential candidates from all backgrounds.

Driving under Influence: Convictions

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were convicted for drink driving in the UK in each year since 2010.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of the offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving since 2010; and how many such people were imprisoned for the maximum amount stipulated for the offence.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of the offence of causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs since 2016; and how many such people were imprisoned for the maximum length of time stipulated for that offence.

Rory Stewart: The number of convictions for drink driving in England and Wales can be found in the motoring data tool in the annual criminal justice system statistics publication at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2016 Convictions in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the relative devolved administrations. The maximum custodial sentence for the offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving is 5 years’ imprisonment and for causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs is 14 years’ imprisonment. Since 2010 court data indicates that nine offenders have received prison sentences of over 4 years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. In 2016, no offenders received sentences of more than 10 years for causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.Court proceedings data for England and Wales for 2017 are planned for publication in May 2018.

Prisoners: Universal Credit

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of awarding universal credit to prisoners who are nearing completion of their sentence before they leave prison.

Rory Stewart: Prisoners are able to speak to a Department of Work and Pensions Work Coach shortly before release who is able to make an appointment at the relevant Job Centre as early as the day of release. Once the former prisoner attends the Job Centre to complete his claim, eligible prisoners can receive funds within hours. Ministry of Justice officials are working with the Department of Work and Pensions to improve the process with the aim of enabling a claim in advance of release and will release more details in due course.

Courts: Video Conferencing

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how the decision will be made on assessing whether a child defendant has the ability to effectively participate in court proceedings via a video link rather than in person; and what adjustments are made for a child appearing before a court via video link.

Lucy Frazer: HM Courts & Tribunals Service is committed to ensuring that children and young people who go to court understand what is happening, take part in the process and receive the appropriate support, including agreed adjustments. Criminal Practice Directions are in place and give guidance to the courts and users about how to effectively and appropriately make use of live links and telephone facilities. This includes guidance on how and when live links should be used for hearings and provides specific guidance for defendants aged under 18. The court will deal with any application for use of a video link on a case‐by‐case basis, after consultation with the parties, including parents and carers and the Youth Offending Team. The Ministry of Justice has not conducted an assessment of outcomes of hearings depending on whether video was used. Outcomes of hearings are a matter for the judiciary. HMCTS keeps parents and carers informed of hearing dates and times. The Ministry of Justice has not conducted an assessment of Youth Offending Teams’ ability to fulfil their statutory duties depending on whether a video link was used, but any decision to use a video link would be taken following consultation with the Youth Offending Team.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average caseload of a caseworker at the Criminal Cases Review Commission has been in each year since 2010.

Rory Stewart: The average number of cases under review per 1 FTE Case Review Manager at the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year (1 April-31 March) since 2010 is set out in the table below:YearAverage caseload2010-1112.52011-1219.42012-13232013-1418.82014-1524.62015-1623.92016-1722.9April – Dec 201727 Calculations are based on total cases under review at 31 March each year.The increase in last year has been due to the CCRC efforts in reducing the backlog queue of received applications, which has increased number of cases under review and a slight increase in the number of applications received in the last year.

Aiding and Abetting

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the implementation of recommendations on joint enterprise from the (a) Law Commission report entitled Participating In Crime, published in 2006, (b) Eleventh Report of the Justice Committee of Session 2010-12, Joint Enterprise, HC1597, and (c) Lammy Review of 2017.

Lucy Frazer: This Government does not believe that any changes to the law on joint enterprise are currently needed, but will keep the matter under review. It is for the courts to interpret and apply the common law in this area, and in particular, the change to the law on parasitic accessory liability made by the Supreme Court in R v Jogee. This Government, like the previous one, is satisfied that the Supreme Court has made the necessary correction to the law and believes this goes a long way in responding to concerns expressed earlier by members of the Justice Committee. In addition, the Crown Prosecution Service has consulted on revised guidance for use by prosecutors on secondary liability and aims to publish the final version in the early part of this year. This guidance will take account of the Lammy Recommendation that the CPS, while reworking its guidance on joint enterprise, should consider its approach to gang prosecutions in general. The CPS has already revised its internal resources on gangs in light of the recommendations resulting from the Lammy Review.

Amey

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2018 to Question 125374, how many times his Department issued Early Warning Notices to Amey relating to that company's delivery of contracts for prison maintenance in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017.

Rory Stewart: An Early Warning Notice is used to identify any issues that could affect the cost, timing or effectiveness of the service provided. This is way of flagging issues ahead of them impacting on operations. The Ministry of Justice issued Early Warning Notices to Amey 675 times in 2016 and 2017. We work closely with all our providers to ensure that any disruption or impact on operations can be minimised.

Amey

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2018 to Question 125374, how many times his Department raised concerns under the Defect provisions, as set out in the NEC3 standard form of the contract, to Amey relating to that company's delivery of contracts for prison maintenance in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017.

Rory Stewart: The Department issued Defects to Amey 299 times since June 2015 for services provided by the prison facilities management contracts. Please note that a Defect is defined in the NEC3 contract as part of the service which is not provided in accordance with the contract specifications, applicable law or the agreed plan. The mechanism is a proactive contractual mechanism designed to identify deficiencies in a timely manner to allow Amey to correct within a time which minimises the adverse effect on the Department.

Young Offenders: Exercise

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average hours per young offender per week spent in physical education were in each year since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee: This information is not held centrally. Secure Children’s Homes (SCH) provide 30 hours of education, including physical education, per week. The contractual expectation is that young people in both Secure Training Centres (STC) and the private sector under-18 Young Offender Institutions (YOI) spend 25 hours in education, including physical education, per week. Public sector under-18 YOIs provide 30 hours of education per week, this includes 3 hours of physical education. In November 2017, Ministry of Justice (MoJ) commissioned the National Alliance of Sport for the Desistance of Crime (NASDC) to review how sport can be used as a tool in the rehabilitation and resettlement of young offenders. The findings of NASDC’s review will be published in 2018.

Employment Tribunals Service: Finance

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the budget was for the employment tribunal service in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: The gross budget for the Employment Tribunal Service in each year since 2010 is as follows: 2010/11 - £60.9m2011/12 - £62.6m2012/13 - £58.0m2103/14 - £53.4m2014/15 - £50.9m2015/16 - £51.2m2016/17 - £41.4m2017/18 - £45.6mThese figures are for costs only, and exclude fees received and overheads of the tribunal.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of Personal Independence Payment appeals from people resident in (i) England and (ii) Wolverhampton North East have been successful.

Lucy Frazer: 2.9m initial Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decisions were made by the Department for Work and Pensions between April 2013 and September 2017. Of those, 8% were appealed against, and 4% overturned at an appeal hearing. These data are included in the links below.https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2017 Information about the volumes and outcomes of appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics. The information provided below is a further breakdown of these data. The number and proportion of Personal Independence Payment1 appeals decided in favour of the appellantEngland Wolverhampton North East2 No. Found in favour3% Found in favour4No. Found in favour% Found in favour2013-201451625%00%2014-20155248850%4242%2015-201652367561%95361%2016-201753683466%114867%Quarter 1 2017-201861113766%39864%Quarter 2 2017-201871144868%34674% 1. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64 from 8 April 2013. Data includes Personal Independence (New Claims and Reassessments). There were low volumes in 2013-2014.Social Security and Child Support data are attributed to a hearing venue nearest to the appellants’ home address. For appellants identified as living in Wolverhampton North East those appeals are among those attributed to the Walsall and Wolverhampton Tribunal Venues.  3. No. Found in favour is based on the number found in favour of the appellant. 4. Percentage Found in favour is based on the number found in favour as a percentage of the appeals cleared at hearing this is in line with the published stats calculation. 5. Financial Years April to March. 6. Quarter 1 April- June. 7. Quarter 2 July- September- the latest period for which data are available.  Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data that are available. The data are a subset of official statistics extracted from the case management system on a different date.

Prison Officers

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the ratio of prisoners to prison officers was in (a) privately managed, (b) public sector-run and (c) all prisons in each of the past five years.

Rory Stewart: Prison population statistics and workforce statistics are regularly published. Prison population statistics are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-population-figures-2018 HMPPS workforce stats (which will contain staffing figures in public sector prisons but not private) are at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/her-majestys-prison-and-probation-service-workforce-quarterly-september-2017 Staffing figures for privately managed prisons since 2010 were provided in the reply to the Honourable member for Leeds East on 23 November 2017 (PQ 114727) Every privately managed prison is required to maintain a ‘safe and secure prison; and every public sector prison has an agreed safe, decent and secure operating level (SDSOL) which reflects the category of prison and the types of prisoners held. The SDSOL is central to the delivery of the regime in every prison. In addition, this Government is on target to recruit an additional 2500 Prison Officers by December 2018 to improve safety and offender management in custody. [Since April 2017 Governors in public prisons have been empowered to manage workforce planning locally and use this flexibility to set their own staffing arrangements.]

Judges: Equality

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to increase the diversity of judges.

Lucy Frazer: The Lord Chancellor has a joint statutory duty with the Lord Chief Justice and the Judicial Appointments Commission to encourage judicial diversity.The MoJ is working with the Lord Chief Justice and the Judicial Appointments Commission to consider all practical actions that would impact positively on diversity, assess the impact of our existing activities and measure progress The MoJ also strongly supports the work of the Judicial Diversity Forum which coordinates action by MoJ, the Judicial Appointments Commission, the judiciary and the legal professional bodies to increase judicial diversity. The Judicial Appointments Commission, judiciary and legal professions undertake a range of outreach events, shadowing programmes, pre-application support and mentoring to attract and support eligible candidates, which includes programmes specifically targeted at underrepresented groups to encourage applications from diverse applicants.

Legal Representation: Wales

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many court cases at least one defendant was without legal representation in (a) Wales and (b) City and County of Swansea for (i) civil and (ii) criminal cases in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: Figures on the number of defendants by legal representation status in the Crown Court in Wales and Swansea, 2010 – 2016, are shown in Table 1a and Table 1b.Table 1a: Representation status, at first hearing, of defendants dealt with in the Crown Court, Wales, annually 2010 - 2016Year Representation status at first hearingTotal number of defendants dealt within trial casesKnown representationNo advocate representation / unknownNumberNumberPercentageNumberPercentage20105,9375,75097%1873%20115,5325,38897%1443%20125,4795,33797%1423%20135,2755,16198%1142%20145,3675,17496%1934%20155,6775,43396%2444%20164,7594,58796%1724% Table 1b: Representation status, at first hearing, of defendants dealt with in the Crown Court, Swansea, annually 2010 – 2016 Year Representation status at first hearingTotal number of defendants dealt within trial casesKnown representationNo advocate representation / unknownNumberNumberPercentageNumberPercentage20101,3201,28998%312%20111,3131,28498%292%20121,2351,20598%302%20131,2441,22598%192%20141,3241,29498%302%20151,3071,27097%373%20161,0361,01198%252% Notes:1) For criminal court cases the Ministry of Justice publishes annual figures on representation status, at first hearing, of defendants dealt with in the Crown Court. The latest figures up to 2016 can be found here in AC11 of the main tables: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-20172) Information on unrepresented defendants in Magistrates’ courts is not held centrally.3) Figures in table 1b are provided for Swansea Crown Court as it’s the only Crown Court in the City and County of Swansea. Figures on the number of defended civil court claims by details of legal representation for Wales and Swansea between 2013 and 2016 are found in Table 2a and Table 2b: Table 2a: Number of defended civil court claims by details of legal representation, in Wales, annually 2013 – 2016.  Wales   YearParties with legal representation   Both Claimant and DefendantClaimant OnlyDefendant OnlyNeither claimant nor defendantTotal 20135,5656072947567,222 20143,4154902256164,746 20153,3774591696074,612 20163,2434832145094,449Table 2b: Number of defended civil court claims by details of legal representation, in Swansea, annually 2013 – 2016.  Swansea   YearParties with legal representation   Both Claimant and DefendantClaimant OnlyDefendant OnlyNeither claimant nor defendantTotal2013135211939214 201410921722159 2015105301227174 201663261821128  Notes:4) For civil court cases, the Ministry of Justice publishes national quarterly defence figures by legal representation of the parties. The latest annual national figures up to 2016 can be found in table 1.6 below:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/665074/civil-justice-stats-main-tables-july-sept-2017.xlsx5) For both national and local civil data, information is not available before 2013.6) Annual data is not included for 2017 as Q4 data has not yet been released.7) The total number of defended civil claims in Wales includes cases from the Wales County Court Money Claims Centre. Table 3: Figures on the legal representation of applicants and respondents in family proceedings in Wales from 2011-2016Legal representation status of applicants and respondents in Family Courts cases with at least one hearing in Wales Representation status at most recent hearing Applicants Respondents Total applicants Known representationNo advocate representation / unknown Total respondentsKnown representationNo advocate representation / unknownYearNumberNumber%Number% NumberNumber%Number%20116,2935,00380%1,29020% 7,5864,48759%3,09941%20126,8615,34278%1,51922% 8,3274,83158%3,49642%20137,1685,14772%2,02128% 8,4563,84145%4,61555%20146,1733,91863%2,25537% 7,3953,46247%3,93353%20155,8823,84765%2,03535% 7,1003,37548%3,72552%20166,5144,17264%2,34236% 8,0083,96850%4,04050% Table 4: Figures on the legal representation of applicants and respondents in family proceedings in Swansea from 2011-2016Legal representation status of applicants and respondents in Family Courts cases with at least one hearing in Swansea DFJ area Representation status at most recent hearing Applicants Respondents Total applicants Known representationNo advocate representation / unknown Total respondentsKnown representationNo advocate representation / unknownYearNumberNumber%Number% NumberNumber%Number%20111,7951,43180%36420% 2,1261,34063%78637%20122,0791,64079%43921% 2,4531,52862%92538%20132,2561,61672%64028% 2,6771,31649%1,36151%20141,7941,21168%58332% 2,1071,03249%1,07551%20151,6011,08668%51532% 2,0251,00650%1,01950%20161,8311,20166%63034% 2,2151,05448%1,16152%Notes:   1. Family cases include divorce, financial remedy, public law, private law, domestic violence remedy and adoption cases.2. Self-representation is determined by the field 'legal representation' in Familyman being left blank, and 'at least one hearing' refers to non-vacated scheduled hearings, rather than actual hearings that have taken place.3. Data for all case types was not collected prior to 20114. Swansea DFJ includes the following courts: Aberystwyth, Blackwood, Brecknock, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Llanelli, Port Talbot Justice Centre, Swansea, Brecknock & Radnorshire FPC, Ceredigion FPC, Pembrokeshire FPC, Neath & Port Talbot FPC, Swansea FPC and Carmarthenshire FPC.

Courts: ICT

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2018 to Question 125455, on Courts: ICT, what performance related measures are applied to the PwC contract for the delivery of digital courts reform.

Lucy Frazer: The performance related measures are:Operational - outcome of deliverables within each work package - this is monitored on an operational level daily and formally reviewed against the contract at the monthly contract management meetingsA performance incentive mechanism (Retention and Performance fee) – this is monitored via 4 balance scorecard measures (reviewed at the monthly contract management meetings)including:1) portfolio delivery (supporting delivery and achieving overarching objectives of reform),2) benefits realisation (realising benefits of reform),3) behaviours (approach to partnership) and4) knowledge transfer/capability build (developing HMCTS Reform staff to reduce reliance on external support).

Courts: Buildings

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much money was raised for the public purse from the sale of each court since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: We are investing over £1bn to reform and improve our world-leading courts and tribunals system. Our ongoing court sales are contributing to the court reform programme. Since 2010, the following proceeds have been received from the sale of each court:  Proceeds (£)2010/2011ALDRIDGE MAGISTRATES’ COURT330,000LEIGH COUNTY COURT155,001LOUTH MAGISTRATES’ COURT200,000SLEAFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT384,000WIGAN COUNTY COURT200,278WORKSOP COUNTY COURT151,335BARNET MAGISTRATES’ COURT775,000 Total 2010/112,195,614 2011/12ABERTILLERY MAGISTRATES’ COURT81,000ACTON MAGISTRATES’ COURT1,176,665BLANDFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT175,000BODMIN COUNTY COURT140,000BRENTFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT650,000CAERNARFON CROWN COURT30,776CHESHUNT MAGISTRATES’ COURT540,000COALVILLE MAGISTRATES’ COURT245,000CULLOMPTON MAGISTRATES’ COURT235,000EASTLEIGH MAGISTRATES’ COURT850,000GAINSBOROUGH MAGISTRATES’ COURT315,000GRAVESEND COUNTY COURT100,000HARROW MAGISTRATES’ COURT1,125,000HORSEFERRY ROAD MAGISTRATES’ COURT20,755,860MANSFIELD COUNTY COURT342,500PENRITH MAGISTRATES’ COURT174,600STRATFORD-UPON-AVON MAGISTRATES’ COURT530,000SUTTON MAGISTRATES’ COURT2,247,000WITNEY MAGISTRATES’ COURT330,000MILDENHALL MAGISTRATES’ COURT328,000RHONDDA MAGISTRATES’ COURT470,654WHITBY MAGISTRATES’ COURT400,000CAERNARFON MAGISTRATES’ COURT30,776MARYLEBONE MAGISTRATES’ COURT13,400,000 Total 2011/1244,672,830 2012/13 ABERDARE MAGISTRATES’ COURT275,000ALNWICK MAGISTRATES’ COURT20,000AMMANFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT90,000BARKING MAGISTRATES’ COURT505,000BARNSLEY COUNTY COURT169,864BARRY MAGISTRATES’ COURT250,000BLAYDON MAGISTRATES’ COURT144,990BRISTOL MAGISTRATES’ COURT1,800,000CAMBORNE MAGISTRATES’ COURT137,500CARMARTHEN COUNTY COURT275,000CONSETT COUNTY COURT81,265CONSETT COUNTY COURT,13,735GUISBOROUGH MAGISTRATES’ COURT275,000HEMEL HEMPSTEAD MAGISTRATES’ COURT650,000HEXHAM MAGISTRATES’ COURT102,500ILFORD COUNTY COURT1,313,013ILKESTON MAGISTRATES’ COURT610,000NEWPORT MAGISTRATES’ COURT59,000NORTHWICH MAGISTRATES’ COURT260,000PENZANCE COUNTY COURT230,000PORT TALBOT MAGISTRATES’ COURT225,000PWLLHELI MAGISTRATES’ COURT131,013SITTINGBOURNE MAGISTRATES’ COURT430,000SUTTON COLDFIELD MAGISTRATES’ COURT440,000TECHNOLOGY & CONSTRUCTION COURT25,337,500WOOLWICH MAGISTRATES’ COURT335,000MARKET HARBOROUGH MAGISTRATES’ COURT291,500NEWARK MAGISTRATES’ COURT404,464RUGBY MAGISTRATES’ AND COUNTY COURT285,000WEST BROMWICH MAGISTRATES’ COURT160,000ABERAERON OFFICE SUNNYSIDE MAGISTRATES’ COURT225,000 Total 2012/1335,526,344 2013/14 BALHAM YOUTH COURT2,000,000CARDIGAN MAGISTRATES’ COURT48,910DENBIGH MAGISTRATES’ COURT165,000DEWSBURY COUNTY COURT276,000DIDCOT MAGISTRATES’ COURT400,000ELY MAGISTRATES’ COURT1GOSFORTH MAGISTRATES’ COURT378,000HALESOWEN MAGISTRATES’ COURT314,250HARWICH MAGISTRATES’ COURT352,500IPSWICH CROWN COURT360,000KEIGHLEY COUNTY COURT130,000LISKEARD MAGISTRATES’ COURT380,000NEWPORT MAGISTRATES’ COURT380,000RETFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT151,000SALFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT544,000SWAFFHAM MAGISTRATES’ COURT155,000TAMWORTH MAGISTRATES’ COURT437,500THETFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT231,550TOWER BRIDGE MAGISTRATES’ COURT8,525,000WAREHAM MAGISTRATES’ COURT290,000WHITEHAVEN MAGISTRATES’ COURT200,000WISBECH MAGISTRATES’ COURT151,350ASHFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT375,000LAUNCESTON MAGISTRATES’ COURT87,500MELTON MOWBRAY MAGISTRATES’ COURT147,000RAWTENSTALL MAGISTRATES’ COURT135,000SUDBURY MAGISTRATES’ COURT112,000WOKING MAGISTRATES’ COURT1,050,000 Total 2013/1417,776,561 2014/15 CHESHIRE MCC COURT195,865CROMER MAGISTRATES’ COURT325,000DAVENTRY MAGISTRATES’ COURT140,000DEWSBURY MAGISTRATES’ COURT300,000EPPING MAGISTRATES’ COURT750,000HARINGEY MAGISTRATES’ COURT10,100,000HONITON MAGISTRATES’ COURT183,000LLANDRINDOD WELLS MAGISTRATES’ COURT34,400NEATH MAGISTRATES’ COURT450,000PONTYPOOL COUNTY COURT200,000REDDITCH COUNTY COURT345,000ROCHDALE MAGISTRATES’ COURT6,316SELBY MAGISTRATES’ COURT186,000BISHOP AUCKLAND MAGISTRATES’ COURT150,000KNOWSLEY MAGISTRATES’ COURT250,000MID SUSSEX MAGISTRATES’ COURT2,105,000ROCHDALE MAGISTRATES’ COURT323,685SOUTHPORT MAGISTRATES’ COURT304,000 Total 2014/1516,348,266 2015/16 ANDOVER MAGISTRATES’ COURT537,500BRIDPORT MAGISTRATES’ COURT693,460BURTON ON TRENT COUNTY COURT185,000COLEFORD MAGISTRATES’ COURT170,000FLINT MAGISTRATES’ COURT87,500GOOLE MAGISTRATES’ COURT60,000HOUGHTON LE SPRING MAGISTRATES’ COURT30,000HOUGHTON LE SPRING MC60,000KNUTSFORD CROWN COURT1,600,000LEWES MAGISTRATES’ COURT1,900,000MARKET DRAYTON MAGISTRATES’ COURT100,000STOKE ON TRENT MAGISTRATES’ COURT200,000WANTAGE MAGISTRATES’ COURT657,000WIMBORNE MAGISTRATES’ COURT310,000WITHAM MAGISTRATES’ COURT525,000 Total 2015/167,115,460 2016/17 BRIDGEND LAW COURTS375,000CARMARTHEN MAGISTRATES’ & CROWN COURT223,004EAST BERKSHIRE (BRACKNELL) MAGISTRATES’ COURT1,000,001FELTHAM MAGISTRATES’ COURT2,150,000FROME MAGISTRATES’ COURT397,666GRANTHAM MAGISTRATES’ AND COUNTY COURT112,000GRANTHAM MAGISTRATES’ COURT448,000PONTYPRIDD MAGISTRATES’ COURT350,000SHERBORNE MAGISTRATES’ COURT250,000SPALDING MAGISTRATES’ COURT270,430SWANSEA CROWN COURT774,528TOTNES MAGISTRATES’ COURT237,000Weston Super Mare Magistrates’ Court116,078PONTEFRACT MAGISTRATES’ COURT205,000BRIDGEWATER MAGISTRATES’ COURT167,652 Total 2016/177,076,360 2017/18 BOW COUNTY COURT3,500,000CIRENCESTER MAGISTRATES’ COURT450,000DORKING MAGISTRATES’ COURT2,125,000GREENWICH MAGISTRATES’ COURT12,005,000HAMMERSMITH MAGISTRATES’ COURT43,000,000HOLYHEAD MAGISTRATES’ COURT112,500NEATH AND PORT TALBOT COUNTY COURT250,000REDHILL MAGISTRATES’ COURT6,550,000RHYL COUNTY COURT92,150RICHMOND UPON THAMES MAGISTRATES’ COURT9,838,000SOLIHULL MAGISTRATES’ COURT4,312,000WALTHAM FOREST MAGISTRATES’ COURT3,471,040WOOLWICH COUNTY COURT2,555,000CHESTER-LE-ST MAGISTRATES’ COURT100,000TOTTENHAM (ENFIELD) MAGISTRATES’ COURT4,570,000 Total 2017/18*92,930,690 Grand Total223,642,125  *2017-18 financial year figures are for proceeds up until 31 December 2017.

Sentencing: Females

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2017 to Question 108876, on Sentencing: Females, if he will provide that same information by the offence categories used in his Department's offender management statistics.

Rory Stewart: The number of female offenders sentenced to immediate custody at all courts in England and Wales, by sentence length and offence group in 2016, can be viewed in the attached table. We are committed to doing all we can to address the issues around female offending so we can better protect the public and deliver more effective rehabilitation. We are developing a strategy for female offenders, to improve outcomes for women in both the community and custody.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 29 KB)

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Child Care Vouchers

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many employees in his Department make use of the childcare voucher scheme.

Oliver Dowden: As at 31 January 2018, 386 Cabinet Office employees received childcare vouchers through the departments childcare voucher scheme.

Cabinet Office: Land

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much land (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England and (ii) the South West; and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements.

Oliver Dowden: The current Government Estate Strategy sets out the Government's vision to create an efficient, fit-for-purpose and sustainable estate whose performance matches the best of the private sector. As a Government we are delivering this vision, ensuring that the estate is fit for purpose, is frequently reviewed and aligned to the Estate Strategy, and is managed in an efficient and effective way. The current landholdings of the Cabinet Office are shown in the table below. This does not include land previously identified as surplus that has now been disposed. The information is correct at time of publication. Land in Sq mEnglandSouth WestCabinet Office – Estates Cabinet Office – Residual Estate16,405 45,4440 0Crown Commercial Service00Non-departmental public bodies00Total   Of the total land the Cabinet Office holds in England, 24,609 sq m is currently declared as surplus. These figures include agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Note: We have interpreted this question to refer to freehold property only and “land” refers to building area as the Cabinet Office does not hold any land which is not occupied by an office building; measurements are therefore in square meters rather than hectares.

Public Sector: Billing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of provisions that public contract payments are made within 30 days of being invoiced.

Oliver Dowden: Government departments publish their own payment performance data on GOV.UK. We encourage suppliers that have not been paid promptly to report the case to our Mystery Shopper Service, who will investigate on their behalf. In addition, BEIS have recently introduced a payment reporting system, which requires large businesses to report on their UK payment practices and performance. Businesses must report 6 monthly on their payment performance starting with their first full financial year that starts on or after 6 April 2017.

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund: Minority Groups

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Minister for the Home Office, if she will commission an independent review of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund aid programme delivered by her Department to assess the effectiveness of that aid reaching religious minorities.

Mr David Lidington: The work of the CSSF is subject to regular independent review, including by external bodies such as the Independent Commission for Aid Impact and the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy. Programmes are required to be both conflict and gender sensitive at a design stage to ensure that they are focused on achieving National Security Council objectives and do not inadvertently reinforce the drivers of social exclusion. Where analysis suggests it would be appropriate, we work with specific groups such as religious minorities. For example, in Sri Lanka the CSSF has supported inter-ethnic and inter-faith dialogues in the Eastern part of the country, through the establishment of District Inter-Religious Committees. In Iraq the CSSF is working with local government to deliver community action plans, including social cohesion and conflict mitigation activities. Further information on CSSF programmes is available via the published Programme Summaries, Annual Review summaries and our Annual Report on GOV.UK.

Social Mobility Commission

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings he has had with the Social Mobility Commission since his appointment.

Mr David Lidington: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Living Wage

Gareth Snell: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what information the Commission holds on the number of contract staff in the House who are paid less than the London Living Wage.

Tom Brake: The House of Commons Commission does not hold pay information about individual contractor staff.The House of Commons is an accredited London Living Wage Employer. In order to obtain our licence the House had to satisfy the Living Wage Foundation that no directly employed or contracted workers engaged on the Parliamentary estate are paid less than the London Living Wage. We can confirm that to our knowledge no contractor working on the Parliamentary Estate is being paid less than the London Living Wage. It is a requirement in our contracts that contractors and sub-contractors’ employees working on the Parliamentary Estate are paid at least the London Living Wage. Additionally, for House of Commons contracts and where the Lords and Commons contract together jointly, contractors and subcontractors which provide services in relation to our contracts, while not having a presence on Parliamentary premises, are required to pay staff working directly on our contracts at least the London Living Wage or the UK Living Wage if based outside London.

House of Commons: Pay

Gareth Snell: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the rate of pay is for the lowest-paid contracted worker in the House of Commons.

Tom Brake: I would refer the hon. Member to my response to his question (127222) answered today.

Parliamentary Estate: Plastics

David Linden: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many single-use plastic straws were dispensed by catering outlets on the Parliamentary Estate in each of the last five years.

Tom Brake: The exact number of single-use plastic straws dispensed by catering outlets on the Parliamentary Estate in each of the last five years is unknown. However the number of straws purchased by the House for this purpose was:2012/13: 14,0002013/14: 16,2502014/15: 6,0002015/16: 9,0002016/17: 12,250

Parliamentary Estate: Plastics

David Linden: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will take steps to ban the use of single-use plastic straws on the Parliamentary Estate.

Tom Brake: The Commission has asked the Administration Committee to review the sustainability and environmental management of single-use disposable plastics in the House of Commons.The review will include the use of single-use plastic straws on the Parliamentary Estate.The Administration Committee will be considering this matter in March.